King Oedipus, the Tragic Hero PDF

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An essay for Professor Grady on King Oedipus, a play that was read and discused during class. ...

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Daisha Wilson 11/27/17 English 102 Professor Grady King Oedipus, the Tragic Hero

Aristotle defines a tragic hero as a virtuous man whose misfortune is brought about not by depravity, but by some error or frailty. A tragic hero is not a villain nor a model of perfection, but they are considered to be good or decent. The character’s mistake is known as a Hamartia, and this flaw is what eventually leads to their demise. Also, according to Aristotle, there are six essential elements of a tragic hero. Those elements include: the hero having high status, not being perfect, the downfall being partially his fault, the misfortune not fully being deserved, the demise causing him to learn the truth, and the ending causing the audience to feel fear or pity. In this play Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, Oedipus is a tragic hero because he demonstrates the characteristics of lack of self-awareness, the desire to be a truth seeker, and his hubris.

Oedipus’ first tragic flaw that makes him a tragic hero is his lack of self-awareness. When King Oedipus learns from Creon, his wife’s brother, that the killer of Laius must be found, Oedipus immediately vows to find Laius’ murderer. Ironically, Oedipus killed a man a long time ago, but he never considers himself a suspect in King Laius’ murder. In an effort to solve the murder of Laius, Oedipus calls for a blind prophet named Tiresias. In line 305 of the play, Oedipus says “Tiresias, master of all omens.” proving that he believes the blind prophet to be all

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knowing and wise. When Tiresias reveals that Oedipus is the murderer, Oedipus quickly changes his mind about the prophet. In lines 359-360, Oedipus says “Aren’t you appalled to let a charge like that come bounding forth? How will you get away?” Oedipus’ anger and frustration even causes him to accuse both Tiresias and Creon of conspiracy. This shows that Oedipus cannot find the truth within himself, and he cannot even find the truth by simply listening to his own counsel.

In spite of the accusations from Tiresias, Oedipus is still seeking the truth, which is his second flaw as a tragic hero. Even though Oedipus does not gain the insight needed from Tiresias, his vow from line eleven does not change. When Oedipus addressed the Priest in line eleven, he said “You may be confident that I’ll do anything.” This shows that even if the truth causes Oedipus suffering and pain, he will not stop his investigation until the real murderer of Laius is found. Despite Creon being charged with conspiracy by King Oedipus, he makes his way back into the palace. Creon gives Oedipus the opportunity to judge him which would ultimately allow Creon to clear his name, and Oedipus to find out the truth. In line 563, Oedipus begins to question Creon about King Laius. In that line, Oedipus says “How many years ago did your King Laius…”, and Creon replies in a state of panic saying “Laius! Do what? Now I don’t understand.” This ultimately causes Oedipus to believe that Creon had a part in the murder, but their conversation continues. Oedipus asks Creon did the King refer to him, and the answer was no, at least not in the presence of Creon. In line 570, Oedipus asks Creon if he inquired into the murder, and Creon says of course because it had to be investigated, but nothing was ever found. Oedipus goes on to mock the investigation by saying the “skilled” did not reveal anything, and Creon replies in line 574 saying “ I never talk when I am ignorant.” This causes Oedipus to derail

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and accuse Creon of hiding his part in the murder. Their conversation escalates and eventually Jocasta, Oedipus’ wife and Creon’s sister, enters the room due to the commotion and says “[Oedipus] Now go inside! And Creon, you go home! This shows that Oedipus’ own emotions keep him from becoming the truth seeker that he wants to be.

Oedipus’ final flaw is his hubris. The word hubris is defined as excessive pride or selfconfidence. This is his last tragic characteristic Oedipus possesses. In the opening of the play, Oedipus shows his self-pride by addressing his subjects in line eight by saying “I, Oedipus, a name that all men know.” This shows his overall cockiness. Later on in the play, Oedipus accuses Creon of conspiracy because he believes that Creon wants his throne. In line 587 Oedipus says to Creon “That’s where you’re treacherous to your kinship!” This shows that Oedipus’ hubris overshadows his urge to investigate Laius’ murder. Instead of remaining calm and continuing his investigation, he begins arguing with Creon about his “conspiracy” with Tiresias. Throughout the play, the Chorus is used to comment on the play’s actions and to moderate. The Chorus believes Oedipus to be higher than the gods, and this adds to Oedipus’ overall pride. When the Chorus is praying to the gods, Oedipus replies “You pray to the gods, let me grant your prayers.” This proves that Oedipus’ hubris prevents him from learning the truth about who killed King Laius.

Lone Star College took the time to discuss Oedipus’ pride in the play Oedipus the King. The article states that Oedipus’ pride is revealed when he starts believing that he is higher than the gods. Oedipus believes that he is in control of his own fate, and his own actions eventually lead to his demise. At the beginning of the play, the priest asks for Oedipus’ assistance to help the people suffering from the plague, but Oedipus’ hubris shows once again when he said "It was

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God that aided you, men say, and you are held with God's assistance to have saved our lives" It is this comment which completely ignores the priest’s requests and belittles the power of the gods. The priest then refers to Oedipus’ power when he solved the riddle of the Sphinx’s, but Oedipus’ pride shows once more when he says he solved the riddle with his wit alone. At the end of the play, Oedipus eventually learns that his tragic flaws, in this case specifically his pride leads to his downfall because it causes him to be ignorant to the truth of the prophecy.

The English Department at the University of Idaho also took the time to examine the tragic story of Oedipus. Throughout the article it states that Oedipus’ lack of self-awareness, being a truth seeker, and his hubris lead to his demise. Hamartia is again defined as a flaw that eventually leads to a tragic hero’s downfall. Specifically, the author writes “no matter where you go, there you are; you cannot escape your own personality; there are elements of our selves from which we simply cannot escape, and, for the Greeks, these elements are "inherited" and will sometimes determine the course of our lives.” Throughout the play, Oedipus cannot seem to escape his lack of self-awareness. Since he seems to be ignorant of his own prophecy, Oedipus does not learn that he is the murderer of Laius until the end of the play. According to the article, tragedy is ironic. It is ironic that King Oedipus would want to solve the murder of Laius not knowing that Laius was his father, and he is the murderer. The University of Idaho links Oedipus’ tragedy to his hubris. Oedipus’ pride allows him to believe that he is higher than the gods, and this ultimately allows him to believe that he is in control of his fate to the point where he disregards that he has already fulfilled the prophecy.

The evidence above shows that Oedipus is a tragic hero. Ultimately, Oedipus’ three tragic

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flaws lead to his demise. King Oedipus’ lack of self-awareness causes him to ignore the truth given to him by the blind prophet Tiresias. His mission to continually seek the truth even though he is guilty of the murder of Laius causes him to be a tragic hero. Oedipus’ pride causes him to believe that he is in control of his destiny, which forces him believe that he can avoid the prophecy revealed to him by the gods.

Works Cited “Tragedy, Fate, and Harmatia .” Tragedy, University of Idaho, www.webpages.uidaho.edu/engl257/Classical/hamartia.htm.

Oedipus and Othello: Pride and the Tragic Hero.” Oedipus and Othello: Pride and the Tragic

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Hero, Lone Star College, www.lonestar.edu/pride-andthe-tragichero.htm....