The tragic characteristics of Laius are once again proven by his actions, when his group rudely pushed Oedipus out of the way, and when he hits Oedipus on the head. While Laius is not perfectly good, he is also not perfectly bad. Laius" good characteristics are revealed through his strong leadership qualities, and his attempt to protect his family. Laius tries to protect his son from his fate, which is to sleep with his mother and kill his father. While Laius is doing a terrible thing by trying to defy the Gods and kill his son, he is only doing it to protect himself and his family, "Oedipus was fated by the Apollo's oracle at Delphi to slay his father and marry his mother. Laius, in an effort to escape fate, abandoned Oedipus on a mountaintop" (Sophocles 1). Although there is less suffering where Laius is involved, Oedipus" events are less tragic. The best way to compare this is through Laius attempting to kill his own son, and Oedipus killing his father. It is much more tragic that Laius brought his son up to a mountaintop and left him for death, than Oedipus losing control of himself and killing everyone at the cross-roads, including his father. The death of Laius begins the hamartia that occurs with Oedipus and Tiresias.
Hamartia is a large element of a tragedy. Both Oedipus and Laius demonstrate how hamartia is seen in tragedies. Laius" hamartia is much more tragic than Oedipus" hamartia. He gets killed by his own son, and Oedipus loses his position and respect in society. When Laius sends his son out to a mountaintop for death, he does not check to see if the child is dead. Due to his hubris Laius does not make sure his plan works, "Laius in an effort to escape fate, abandoned Oedipus on a mountaintop, but he was rescued by a shepherd and raised in Corinth" (Sophocles 1), Laius" hubris is shown by thinking that he is King and all of his plans will work. This leads to his hamartia.
