The Tragic Hero in "Oedipus Rex"

Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, is the tale of a tragic hero, as defined by Aristotle. This book is the story of a king who learns that he has done a terrible deed through his own folly. He is consequently punished. This classic story teaches the lesson that pride and other sins come before a fall.

The first part of the definition of a tragic hero states that the character, usually the protagonist, must be of a noble birth and also must be virtuous and noble of character. Oedipus is all of these things; he is a king, and a king's son. All of his people come to him when they are in a time of trouble, showing that they trust him to treat them with virtuousness and nobility.

The second part of the definition states that the character is not perfect; he or she is like any other normal person, except for being of noble birth. Oedipus shows this well, even though he is a king. He is quick to show anger and very slow to forgive his friends and family, as shown through the way he treated Creon. He can also be cruel, as when he spoke and acted to the shepherd. This is shown through Oedipus' words on page sixty: "Come here, one of you; bind his arms behind him...you will die now unless you speak the truth."

The downfall of the protagonist is partially their own fault, and comes about because of their own character flaws. Oedipus' character flaw, or hamartia, was hubris, or arrogant pride. Oedipus himself reveals his hamartia when he tells the story of the day that he killed Laius. Oedipus was walking along a road, and when Laius' chariot came by, Oedipus was forced off to the side. His pride was so hurt that he killed Laius and his party. In this way Oedipus killed his own father, as it was prophesied.

The character's flaw causes their downfall; there is a reversal of fortune. Before Oedipus realized that he himself had killed his father, he had sworn that whoever had killed the king would be exiled from Thebes and followed by misery all of their days. Now, because of his own arrogance and pride, these things will happen to Oedipus.

The fifth part of the definition states that the character realizes that they brought about their own downfall. Oedipus intensely realizes this, and is filled with dismay and horror. He finally realizes that Laius is his true father, and that he killed him in a moment of hurt pride. He also realizes that his wife is his mother, and blinds himself because he can no longer bear to look at his children. Finally, Oedipus recognizes that he had earlier stated that whoever had killed Laius would be punished, and this would now happen to him.

Oedipus the King fits the definition of a tragic hero. He is not perfect, and has some flaws, just like anybody else. Through his own arrogance and pride, he makes an error, and consequently he is destroyed. In the end, he realizes that this destruction of his life is his own fault. He sees that character flaws are the harbingers of downfall.

Oedipus by Sophocles