“A tragic hero is a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering or defeat” (Dictionary.com). Oedipus is a tragic hero because he is destined for downfall as king of Thebes. He is flawed and has many errors. Although his flaws and errors cause him to make bad decisions he is able to reflect on his errors and realize his wrong doings and how they negatively affected his life.
Oedipus is very smart. He was able to solve the riddle of the Spinx. This is one reason he was thought to be a great leader. This accomplishment led him to have a lot of confidence and arrogance. Arrogance is one of his flaws. His arrogance causes him to not believe in the prophecy which