Oedipus Rex: The tragic fate of a tragic hero

According to Aristotle, a tragic hero is someone who creates his or her own downfall, whose fate is not deserved, and whose punishment exceeds the crime. In the play “Oedipus Rex� by Sophocles, the main character Oedipus is a perfect example of Aristotle’s tragic hero. In the play, three main themes are presented: destiny, sin, and guilt. Throughout Oedipus’ journey of life he encounters all three themes. Although Oedipus is eventually able to overcome most of his adventures, eventually leading himself to his own downfall.
Destiny played a vital part in the destruction of Oedipus. The destiny of Oedipus is given to his parents, who were King Laios and Queen Iokaste, by the prophecy of Apollo at Delphi. Apollo told them that Oedipus’ fate was to murder his father and to marry his mother. This freighted Oedipus’ parents, and caused them to cast him out of Thebes as a baby.
When he was older, Oedipus visited the Delphi Oracle, where he lea



	Tragic Hero .... Oedipus Rex is a tragic hero because his attempt to escape fate, an offensive mortal sin to the gods, ultimately leads to his demise. .... (917 4 )

	Oedipus Rex: Tragic Hero In the tragedy, Oedipus Rex, Sophocles presented Oedipus as a .... Just as in Oedipus ' time, people today have flaws .... results are not usually as tragic, they still .... (686 3 )

	Tragic Hero- Oedipus Rex In the tragedy, Oedipus Rex, Sophocles presented Oedipus as a .... Just as in Oedipus ' time, people today have flaws .... results are not usually as tragic, they still .... (690 3 )

	Oedipus Rex .... as a literary work that deals with a tragic theme .... "Oedipus Rex " is a much deeper work than that .... This story deals with man 's struggle with fate, with destiny .... (1207 5 )

	Oedipus: A True Tragic Hero .... free will and choice to avoid fate actually brought .... do anything to deserve such a tragic ending, when .... Oedipus Rex is a perfect example of what Aristotle meant .... (1426 6 )

Lastly, guilt is the final theme throughout the drama. Oedipus does not show guilt or remorse for any of his sins until the end of the story. Oedipus’ never-ending desire to discover the truth about the murder of Laios and the mystery surrounding his own birth, led him to the realization of his own terrible deeds. At the end of the play, Oedipus tears out his eyes, when he realizes that he was guilty of killing his father and marrying his mother. When asked by Choragos, “What god was it drove you to rake black / Night across your eyes? (Act 1. Scene 4. Lines 108-109). Oedipus replies:

Apollo, Apollo, Dear / Children, the god was Apollo / He brought my sick, sick fate upon me / But the blinding hand was my own! / How could I bear to see / When all my sight was horror everywhere (Act 1. Scene 4. Lines 110-115)?

Some topics in this essay:
Oedipus, Greek Mythology, Sophocles, Jocasta, Marriage, Oedipus The King, Laius, Crime, King Laios, Apollo,

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PROFESSIONAL ESSAYS:

Oedipus and the Classical Hero: Definition of Tragedy and the .... by his own hand and weeping for the fate of his .... of emotion in our pity for Oedipus' tragic soul .... 1-5. Dodds, ER "On Misunderstanding the 'Oedipus Rex.'" Greece 7 .... (1077 4 )

Oedipus Rex & Hedda Gabler .... certainly punished with great suffering, and his tragic flaw is .... of the oracle and avoid his fate, if that .... The pattern in Oedipus Rex is the pattern that would .... (2838 11 )

Theme of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles .... Oedipus tried to trick fate and run away from the .... of pride, and so sets up his own tragic downfall. In the play, Oedipus Rex, Sophocles appears to be saying to .... (874 3 )

The Tragic & Tragedy in Drama .... of his ordeal (Stagg, 1994, p. 1). The fate of Willy .... This is the "tragic flaw," the self-defeating fight against what is .... An Overview of Oedipus Rex." Drama for .... (1793 7 )

Tragedy of the Downfall of Oedipus .... Oedipus tried to trick fate and run away from the .... of pride, and so sets up his own tragic downfall. In the play, Oedipus Rex, Sophocles appears to be saying to .... (874 3 )

Themes of Arrogance & Denial in Oedipus the King .... flaws and highlight the inevitability of fate. .... Sophocles' Tragic World: Divinity, Nature, Society. .... The Oedipus Cycle: Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone .... (1646 7 )

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