A major feature of tragedy is the use of a tragic hero. A tragic hero can be defined as the principle character in a tragedy who begins in a position of social importance and who is held in high esteem, but through an error of judgement brings about their own downfall and destruction. In the case of Oedipus the King, this role is fulfilled by Oedipus, who is led by his hamartia (tragic flaw) to do something that ultimately leads to his downfall. Aristotle also outlined the characteristics of a good tragic hero. He must be "better than we are," a man who is superior to the average man in some way. In Oedipus's case, he is superior not only because of social standing, but also because he is smart he is the only person who could solve the Sphinx's riddle. At the same time, a tragic hero must evoke both pity and fear, and Aristotle claims that the best way to do this is if he is imperfect. A character with a mixture of good and evil comes across as more compelling than a character that is merely good. The fact that these qualities are so accepted means that they continue to connect with audiences of every generation.
At the beginning of Oedipus the King, Oedipus is held in very high esteem after saving Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx and becoming king virtually overnight. Oedipus is a man of swift action and great insight. He is always anticipating his subjects’ needs and it is clear that he possesses many qualities which make him an excellent leader. For example, when the priest hints that he should send to Delphi for help with the plague, he has already done so; when the chorus suggests sending for Tiresias, the prophet has already been summoned and in on the way. Later in the play, however, we see that Oedipus’ habit of acting quickly can also have negative implications. When he tells the story of killing the band of travelers who he met at the crossroads, Oedipus shows that he has the capacity to behave rashly.
In his search for the truth, Oedipus shows himself to be a thinker, a man good at unraveling mysteries. This is the same characteristic that brought him to Thebes; he was the only man capable of solving the Sphinx's riddle. His intelligence is what makes him great, yet it is also what makes him tragic; his problem-solver's mind leads him on as he works through the mystery of his birth. In the Oedipus myth, marriage to Jocasta was the prize for ridding Thebes of the Sphinx. Thus Oedipus's intelligence, a trait that brings him closer to the gods, is what causes him to commit the most atrocious of all possible sins. In killing the Sphinx, Oedipus is the city's savior, but in killing Laius (and marrying Jocasta), he is its curse.
Of the issues present in Oedipus the King, many are of a wider significance and are still universally recognized. A major issue brought up in the play is destiny. The people of Thebes are deeply religious and believe that their fate is directly determined by the Gods, and they are powerless to change this. A prime example of this is when Oedipus was a young boy and it was said that he would one day kill his father and marry his mother. So strong was his parents’ belief in this that they gave him to a shepherd to be taken away and killed. So strong was his parents’ belief in this that they gave him to a shepherd to be taken away and killed. These extreme beliefs are obviously no longer so prevalent but some still believe that humans are merely victims of their own destiny. This is represented in modern society in people’s desire to take control of their lives, yet still remaining at the mercy of some greater force.
Another important issue that arises in Oedipus the King is hubris. Hubris is an ancient Greek word that refers to the pride that causes a tragic hero to ignore the signs of the gods, or even their own common sense. An obvious example is the plague that spreads through Thebes - no doubt a sign from the Gods. In order to put an end to the plague Oedipus must find the Laius’ killer, a task that he was very confident of accomplishing. However, when Tiresias tries to tell Oedipus that he himself was the killer, Oedipus, being so arrogant and overconfident, doesn’t believe him and accuses him of lying. Another example of Oedipus’ hubris is when the messenger from Corinth comes to Thebes to tell Oedipus of his father’s death. Upon hearing this, Oedipus believed that he had defied the gods and escaped his fate; only later did he find out the truth.
Oedipus the King conforms to the typical conventions of a tragic drama through the use of a tragic hero, Oedipus. The qualities of the tragic hero reflect recurring human qualities and thus continue to connect with audiences of any generation. The issues explored in the play rely on the way people are naturally fascinated by power and status and despite the differences in society, are still universally recognized and have a wider significance than just the tragedy of Oedipus as an individual.
