Oedipus the King is Indeed a Tragic Hero

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The downfall of a hero follows from his very nature. In Sophocles

play, Oedipus the King, the playwright focuses on a man named Oedipus, the king of Thebes,

who is trying to discover the truth about his past. When he was born, his

parents learned from an oracle that their child would someday be the cause




of their death. Believing the oracle, they abandoned their infant son with

the intention of killing him. However, without their knowledge he is

rescued and raised by another couple. After many years, Oedipus visits a

different oracle and is informed that one day he will kill his father and

sleep with his mother. He flees his home for fear that he is a danger to

his parents safety. The frightened Oedipus travels to Thebes, but on the

journey he becomes engaged in a quarrel. He kills King Laios and Laios men

not realizing that the king is his biological father. Af ter reaching

Thebes he becomes the new king by solving a riddle and lifting a plaque

from the city. Oedipus quickly marries a woman named Iocaste, the queen,

and together they have four children. In Thebes the murder of the old King

Laios remains unknown, a plaque is again placed upon the city by the gods.

Oedipus, being the new leader of Thebes, pledges to discover the identity

of the murderer so he can end the disaster. In his searching, Oedipus

discovers that he is the murderer of the king and eventually discovers that

Iocaste is really his own mother. In a Greek tragedy the hero is a

character amply capable of choices, capable, too of accepting the

consequences. Whether Oedipus sufferings are due to a flaw of character

or to an error of judgement, we discover that his downfall results from

acts for which he himself is responsible.



Oedipus is responsible for his own downfall. Through anger he lost

control of his actions. On his way to Thebes, Oedipus came upon a chariot

drawn by horses. As the charioteer pushed him off the road, Oedipus struck

him with rage.



The old man saw me/ and brought his double goad down upon my head/

Swinging my club in this right hand I knocked him / Out of his car

and he rolled on the ground./ I killed him/ I killed them all.

(S 117).



Oedipus never stopped to consider his actions. He unknowingly

fulfilled half of the prophecy by letting his anger get the best of him.

He was capable of controlling his emotions, but chose not to. He is

responsible for the consequences of his fathers death.



Physical and Intellectual blindness resulting from Oedipus

arrogant judgement of himself lead to his ruin. He is respected by Thebes

and thought of as the smartest human for solving the Sphinxs riddle. As a

result, he gains too much pride and confidence and begins to believe he is

untouchable. In the beginning of the play Oedipus has perfect vision,

however, he is blind and ignorant to the truth about himself and his past.

He desperately wants to know, to see, but he cannot. His actions must

somehow overcome his blindness. Ironically, into the play is introduced a

prophet, a seer, Teresias, who is physically blind, but who is clairvoyant.

Teresias says to Oedipus, I tell you,no man that walks upon the earth/

shall be rooted out more horribly than you (S1. . 1117). This just

reaffirms Oedipus as a man ignorant to the true appearance of things - this

blind man can see the truth about Oedipus, yet Oedipus in all of his

physical perfection cannot. Through his pride, he blamed others and

pushed them to reveal the truth.



Oedipus sufferings are due to the character flaw of frustration of

acceptance. Toward the end of the play, it is shown how Oedipus learns

the true nature of things - his past is revealed to him and he learns the

oracle was correct. Now Oedipus can see all to clearly what the truth is,

but he desperately does not want to accept his fate. So, in response, he

strikes his eyes - not once, but many times;/ And the blood spattered his

beard, / bursting from his ruined sockets like red hail (EX. 1140). He

blinds himself so that he may not see, but unfortunately this does not help

the problem. He did not want to accept the situation the way he saw it,

and decided instead not to see at all. Oedipus sense of justice allows no

excuse; he punishes himself by self-blinding. The audience is left with

feelings of pity and fear. Oedipus does not curse God and die though, he

does eventually accept his fate, prays for blessings upon his children, and

prepares to endure his own exile. He falls from a high estate, but is

uplifted in moral dignity.



Anger, overconfidence, pride and frustration misguided Oedipus to

think he was in control of his own life. He is ultimately in control of

his own downfall. He is responsible for the consequences of his choices.

Even the greatest of men can crumble to ruins. All human are subject to

suffering and pain.



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