Oedipus by Sophocles satisfies the requirements for a character to be classified as a tragic hero and serves as an example of the Aristotelian theory of tragedy. According to Aristotle, tragic heroes must be distinguished individuals who exhibit noble traits and possess a hamartia or a fatal flaw. An illustration of the hero’s hamartia is when a challenging circumstance forces the hero to make a moral decision. It may also refer to a virtue characteristic that puts the hero in danger. The tragic hero’s hamartia always results in a situation with a tragic ending.
The play distinguishes Oedipus as a person of high prominence due to his noble status as the king of Thebes and high regard from the citizens. At the time when Thebans come to Oedipus for help, they describe him as “the first of men in what happens in this life and in our interactions with the gods” (Sophocles 2). They are assured of his ability to save them from the terror of Sphynx, which later is proven to be valid. Oedipus is shown to have many excellent qualities throughout the play, but his ability for selflessness shines out above all the rest. This is shown when Oedipus leaves Corinth in order to save his parents. Oedipus is more concerned with his parents’ safety than he is with his destination or the effects of leaving the Corinthian royal family on him and his future. Being selfless is a very significant and crucial leadership quality since it is vital for a King to prioritize the problems of his subjects.
Oedipus’ hamartia is demonstrated by the fact that he murdered Laius, King of Thebes, without being aware that he was his biological father. A person’s hamartia is a mistake they make out of ignorance or when their lack of understanding leads them to follow a course of action that they otherwise would not. Oedipus’ sad ending is influenced by both ignorance and lack of understanding about his identity and the identities of other characters. Moreover, both external events and internal flaws contributed to Oedipus’s downfall. Oedipus is notorious for making choices that result in both success and death. Oedipus’ parents abandoned him or her as soon as he or she was born in order to avoid the prophecy. Teiresias inflames Oedipus’ rage by implying that his father would die and by being married to his mother. Oedipus blinds himself after discovering the truth because he can no longer bear to see it.
In conclusion, various events in the story could have been prevented with proper understanding of characters’ identities by Oedipus. Oedipus would not have slain Laius at the intersection of the three highways if he had known that Laius was actually his biological father. Oedipus had no idea that he was Laius’ son, which was unfortunate for him. As a result, he let his pride get the better of him and killed Laius. It is Oedipus’ choice to murder his father that finally brings about his downfall and marks the beginning of the oracle’s prophesy being fulfilled. According to Aristotle, Oedipus possesses the attributes that form the perfect tragic hero, including noble qualities, hamartia, and the fact that he is a person of high eminence. Oedipus’ life follows a certain course that reverts his fortune to misery and leads to tragedy.
Work Cited
Sophocles. Oedipus the King, C.420 BC. Translated by Ian Johnston. Prideaux Street Publications, 2004.