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Oedipus and Aristotle

            Oedipus fits Aristotle's definition of a tragic hero in three ways. One way that he fits the definition is the fact that misfortune was not caused by a character flaw but by a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding that overtook Oedipus" intentions to find out who killed King Laius and who his real father and mother are. Secondly, Oedipus was brought from happiness to agony and he is regarded as extraordinary rather than typical. And thirdly, Oedipus accepted all the responsibility for the cause of his downfall. .
             Oedipus had no idea that he had killed King Laius to begin with. He did not even know that Laius and Jocasta were his birth parents. Once Oedipus had become the king of Thebes he had set out to find the murderer not knowing that that person was himself. He also unknowingly married his own mother, Jocasta, as well. .
             Oedipus is regarded as an extraordinary person rather than being regarded as typical. He is named king of Thebes. He was also brought from happiness to agony. He was a king and then he ended in agony by eventually exiling himself out of his own kingdom which leads into how he took responsibility for his downfall.
             Oedipus told Creon to send him into exile because he could in no way, possibly stay the King of Thebes, let alone even live in Thebes. This action shows him taking responsibility for his downfall. This also is showing greatness of character. If this would have happened to someone else they might have just ignored it and stayed ruler of Thebes. It took a lot of strength for Oedipus to own up to everything that happened.
             Another relatively small reason that Oedipus lines up with Aristotle's definition of a tragic hero is that he had to answer the riddle to free Thebes and to even be able to enter. The completion of this task is what made him king, what made him admirable. The story of Oedipus is a very tragic story and he is a tragic hero. He is a tragic hero because he lines up with Aristotle's definition of a tragic hero.


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