In the tragedy, Oedipus Rex, Sophocles presented Oedipus as a tragic hero. A tragic hero is a kind of sacrificial victim. He experiences a fall because he has a certain character flaw, or tragic flaw, and he suffers so that the audience may learn from that suffering without having to experience the pain themselves. Oedipus" tragic flaw led to his downfall and suffering. This flaw had an important and intriguing effect on the story.
As the play progressed, a zealous desire to know the truth in its entirety proved to be Oedipus" tragic flaw. In the beginning of the play, Oedipus illustrated this flaw when he sent Creon to fetch the prophet, Tiresias. Oedipus then inquired of him as to who the murderer of Laius had been. When Tiresias refused to provide him with a straight answer, he became angered and demanded to know the truth. Tiresias finally answered him, but Oedipus could not fathom that what had been said was, in fact, the truth. This pattern continued as Oedipus began suspecting what Tiresias had said was actually true. He then asked Jocasta's advice on the situation. Jocasta was his wife and, unbeknownst to him, his mother. She told Oedipus that she did not believe the prophet and for him to simply let it pass. He could not settle for this. He sent for the man that said he witnessed the murder so that he could know the truth. Oedipus threatened the witness who was then forced to reveal to him what happened. This need for knowledge was a flaw for Oedipus, but it not only affected him. It affected those around him also. .
Oedipus" need for knowledge led to his downfall and caused a great deal of suffering. He pushed the issue to the maximum. Jocasta, Creon, Tiresias and even the chorus who had supported Oedipus in the beginning warned him against seeking further knowledge. They, aside from the chorus, knew that there was nothing good that could come from his proceedings. Still, Oedipus continued.
"Oedipus Rex" is a classic Greek tragedy. ... Oedipus Rex is not only the protagonist of this story, but he is also the tragic hero. ... King Oedipus fulfills all of these requirements, yet is considered a tragic hero. ... However, "Oedipus Rex" is a tragedy. ... "Oedipus Rex" is a play of destiny. ...
Oedipus Rex is Greek tragedy written by Sophocles. The main character, Oedipus Rex, is a man who is trying to escape destiny. In spite of his efforts he walks right into it and becomes an ideal tragic hero with all the trimmings. ... To become a tragic hero one must be high born. ... Oedipus Rex is a perfect example of the tragic hero. ...
The Greek drama Oedipus Rex is clearly a tragedy. It definitely meets the five main criteria for a tragedy: a tragic hero of noble birth, a tragic flaw, a fall from grace, a moment of remorse, and catharsis. Oedipus Rex clearly meets the first of these five criteria. ... The tragic flaw, or mistake that a character makes, in Oedipus Rex does not actually take place during the story. ... In these five ways, the story Oedipus Rex classifies as a tragedy. ...
Set in the city of Thebes, Oedipus Rex begins with the cries and pains of citizens victimized by a plague. ... Even though it is established that because of his character and his actions Oedipus is a tragic hero destined to his eventual downfall, there are different interpretations as to why Oedipus fits into this theme. ... All in all, tragic heroism is a major theme and factor in the play, Oedipus Rex, according to Aristotle's definition of tragedy. It was due to his inability to take better decisions that led Oedipus to his downfall which is as to why he is a tragic hero. In, Oedipus R...
Sophocles' play Oedipus Rex allows the audience to experience pity and terror by the story of the hero brought low by a power greater than himself. ... Another part of the drama that makes it powerful is the notion of the tragic hero. The tragic hero should neither be better or worse morally than normal people, in order to allow the audience to identify with them. ... Wilson's criticism supports that Oedipus Rex is a powerful play by causing pleasure in its viewers. ... Also Sophocles uses the characteristics of a tragic hero in his main character Oedipus to arouse pity and terror i...
Under inescapable fate, the moral characters of individuals are truly exposed, separating tragic heroes from tragic characters. Oedipus Rex is a tragic hero because his attempt to escape fate, an offensive mortal sin to the gods, ultimately leads to his demise. ... Oedipus is a tragic hero because he matches all of Aristotle's criteria defining a tragic hero. ... Secondly, the nature of Oedipus" tragic flaw, or hamartia, is significant. ... Prometheus, the protagonist of "Prometheus Bound" by Sophocles marks himself as a tragic hero in a significantly different manner than Oedipus. ...
In Oedipus the King, Sophocles demonstrates how Oedipus is one of the most tragic characters in all of literature while using countless examples of irony. ... Sophocles portrays Oedipus as the ultimate tragic hero using a combination of powerful and enthralling scenes. ... This prophecy made Oedipus tragic because this prophecy was inevitable. ... The conclusion of Oedipus the King is also essential in classifying Oedipus as a tragic character. ... Sophocles developed a mysteriously enchanting tragic character, Oedipus Rex. ...
Oedipus is the victim being a tragic hero in a tragic situation. ... Firstly, Oedipus" status meets that of a tragic hero. ... Secondly, Oedipus" tragic flaw causes him to be the perfect candidate for a tragic hero. ... This ignorance is Oedipus" tragic flaw, which qualifies him as being a tragic hero. ... Oedipus is a tragic hero in a tragic situation. ...
All of the tragedies, including Oedipus Rex are considered outstanding for their powerful, intricate plots and dramatic style. ... Oedipus Rex is a tragedy written by Sophocles. ... Tragic heroes such as Oedipus are grand, noble characters. ... This takes form of the hero discovering something previously unknown or something he knew but misconstrued. Such an ironic reversal occurs in Oedipus Rex when the messenger's speech unsettles rather than reassures Oedipus about who he is and what he has done. ...
