Why Oedipus is a Tragic Hero?

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Why Oedipus is a Tragic Hero?

        The play Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, combines many wonderful characters with dramatic ironies. One of the most interesting and important character of the play is Oedipus. People often debate whether he is a tragic hero or not. According to Aristotle’s five steps of tragic hero, Oedipus is a true tragic hero.

        The first step of tragic hero is one must be noble stature and greatness. To become a tragic hero, Oedipus must be over the others. “Great Oedipus, O powerful King of Thebes!” (pg 4) Oedipus is the King—the King of Thebes. At the end of the play, he’s not the King any more; however, he has the King’s blood. “O Oedipus, most royal one!”(pg 66) No matter he is the King or not, he is the most royal one after all. Tragic heros are not perfect, and Oedipus is far away from perfect. “How can I believe you?”(pg 33) Oedipus does not listen to other people’s advice and he does not believe what he could not see. That’s the reason of Oedipus being rude.

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        The falling of tragic hero is caused by himself/ herself. Oedipus killed his father and married to his mother. He may not realize he did that, but his sin is done by himself. “We heard her call upon Laios, dead so many years, And heard her wail for the double fruit of her marriage, A husband by her husband, children by her child.”(pg

68) Her mother’s death is indirectly caused by him. Of course, people feel sorry for the tragic hero, because the misfortunate is not wholly deserved. Oedipus kills his father and become the King of Thebes; therefore, ...

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