Oedipus a Tragic Hero

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Oedipus a tragic hero Aristoteles once said, “All men by nature desire knowledge”. Which fits perfectly in the tragedy of Oedipus, Oedipus is a good example of a tragic hero. A tragic hero is one who has fallen from great power or status to a state of unhappiness, which shall be brought by a flaw or weakness. A tragic hero must not be common, and he must learn from his own mistakes in the end. Oedipus, a royal son adopted by another royalty, he tried to escape his faith, but ended up fulfilling it. How he was able to kill his father and marry his own mother, unknowing of what he was doing. So in the play, you do not know if to root for or despite him. Oedipus himself was a good man, he was known for solving the sphinx's riddle and he does not mean anyone any harm. He is also brave enough to go see his people in need instead of sending one of his men (p.25). And the only reason he left Corinth was so that he would not kill his father and marry his mother. But that also makes him hubris, thinking he could outsmart the gods. He has some flaws that put him right where the gods want him. He puts himself higher than the gods by running from his faith. Oedipus is quite self-centred like when he says “none suffers more than I” (p.27). Later in the play he draws to the conclusion that his brother in-law is plotting against him to take his throne. He makes this rash conclusion when Theresias feels forced to tell Oedipus that he is the cursed polluter of his land (p.33). This makes Oedipus doubt himself and he decides to find out the truth about the killer of Liaus. In doing so he tells his people “Or if any man’s conscience is guilty, let him give himself up. He will suffer the less. His fate will be nothing worse than banishment. No other harm will touch him.” Ironically he condemned himself unknowingly. When in the end of the play the truth comes forward, or when

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