Who Is Oedipus A Tragic Hero

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Oedipus Essay
A hero is an ordinary, everyday, run-of-the-mill person, who is willing to rise to an occasion in which a hero is vital to solve a conflict. In many works of literature, author tend to gravitate towards heroes as the main character of their works. Sophocles, the author of Oedipus Rex, focuses on Oedipus, the main character consumed by the plot which revolves around his personal conflict or a conflict in which he must attempt to solve. Oedipus is a tragic hero, a theory created by Aristotle, shows a tragic hero as someone with good and bad character traits, a high social status, excessive pride, and profound suffrage after the moment of clarity.
Oedipus shows both good and bad character traits throughout the play, which is a quality …show more content…
In the opening plea, Oedipus is having a conversation with the priest, on the steps of the castle, “You may be sure ‘I know all that you longed for incoming here. I know that you are deathly sick; yet, sick as you are, not one is as sick as I” (60-64). This quote shows the fact that Oedipus suffers more physically, emotionally, and mentally then his citizens. Oedipus is saying this to show his empathy and concern for his citizen’s lives, treating them with the same as his own. Nevertheless Oedipus’s good character traits are evident when he is called to save the city from the plague. Oedipus is a good person due to his relentless motivation to bring safety and peace to his kingdom, “Let them all hear it. It is for them I suffer, more than for myself… …show more content…
Therefore Oedipus shows he has an excessive amount of pride when he says he will come to the aid of his citizens. Oedipus believed that the people of Thebes needed him to rid them of the plague, after he had once saved them from a sphinx, so he stated, “Then once more, I must bring light to dark. It is more fitting that Apollo shows, as you do…” (134-136). They way he states that the people of Thebes need him once more in such a condescending way shows his arrogance. He uses the name of the god Apollo to further his importance to his claim and his importance. Furthermore Oedipus expresses excessive pride when he reveals his solution. When Oedipus is announcing he is planning to rid Thebes of the plague he replied, “Is this your prayer? It may be answered. Come listen to me, act as crisis demands, and you shall have relief from all these evils.”(204-205). They way Oedipus talks down to the citizens of Thebes belittles them, as well as metaphorically placing him on a pedestal above everyone else. In addition Oedipus promises to bring relief to the plague; this supports him having excessive pride, since the murder needs to be found to rid Thebes of the plague. To add when Oedipus claims Tiresias is a fraud, it shows that he has excessive pride. After Oedipus has finished his talk with Tiresias, he openly blames Creon for bring him a false prophet and says,
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