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The Doomed Hero

            
             Tragedy is something that is disastrous or a lamentable affair. It can also be seen as an inescapable doom. A hero is someone who establishes a value system for an entire culture (Lynch 23). In Oedipus the King, this is applicable. Oedipus has no flaws at the beginning of his life yet he is cursed and pushed into a life that is shaping his future filled with perversion. This is the most tragic part of the story because Oedipus's father and mother are told by an oracle that he will kill his father and marry his mother. He has no conception in his mind that he is set up for his own doom. The fact that Oedipus's life is spared and his fate is predetermined has a point behind it.
             Oedipus is naive and ignorant in his youth. This makes him easily influenced by rumors spoken about him. Which leads Oedipus to make impulsive decisions that leads him to fulfill one of the prophecies. He kills his biological father, King Laius. This is not a coincidence. It seems that regardless of what Oedipus does his fate will catch up to him (pinkmonkey.com). .
             Also, there are many reasons why it seems that Oedipus's fate is stronger than his will. Every event in his life, after he killed the King, moved briefly. This was a sign to him that he was free from the foul things said by the Oracle. Oedipus did not know that he was heading into his doom of suffering and anguish. Oedipus is a very intelligent man, but his virtues are his flaws that lead him to his own downfall (Lynch 22). In Oedipus's mind he has his destiny in has hands. This is what brought him to be blind to reality. He continues on with his life never questioning his past and always believing in his heart that he is living righteous. He got so full of himself that he did not know about the mendacious affairs taking place in his own life.
             Although, he marries the queen and has four children with her he never questions her about where and how the King had died.


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