The Greeks were known for putting on a show. They loved to make up plays and divide them into one of two categories; tragedy or comedy. One of the most famous tragedies written by the Greeks is a play known as Oedipus Rex. What is the definition of a tragedy? Aristotle came up with six requirements which Oedipus Rex meats with perfection. “Oedipus Rex [is] the tragedy that most closely fit[s] [Aristotle’s] guidelines. Oedipus is the model of the “tragic hero,” because the concept is based on him” (Moliken and Osborne 69). In other words, Aristotle came up with his definition of the “tragic hero” by looking at the story of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles; thus, it makes perfect sense that Oedipus Rex fits the description of a “tragic hero” perfectly. The first requirement to be considered a tragic hero is that the hero of the story must be “a man of noble stature. He [must] not [be] an ordinary man but one of outstanding qualities” (Jonson and Arp 1252). Oedipus, the hero of Oedipus Rex, meets this description perfectly. Not only is Oedipus the “powerful king of Thebes” (Sophocles 1259) but he is also the son of a king (Laius) and was raised by another king (Polybus of Corinth).…show more content… In other words, the hero gains some knowledge from his defeat. This is what happens to Oedipus. Oedipus has a tragic fall; however, he learns from his mistakes. He now understands that anger, hubris, and the overzealous pursuit of justice can get him into trouble. Oedipus “accepts [his fate] and acknowledge[es] that it is to some degree just” (Jonson and Arp 1253). Furthermore, the fall is not a loss on the audience. The end of the play demonstrates the truth; “let every man in mankind’s frailty consider his last day; and let none presume on his good fortune until he find life, at his death, a memory without pain” (Sophocles 1301). In other words, no person should be thought of as blessed until they are
