Oedipus Tragic Hero Analysis - 936 Words

A king must possess select components of bravery, pride, and determination that coincide with one another in a manner to which others will perceive as commendable. Nevertheless, the very qualities that make a king rise above his citizens may be the exact characteristics that lead to his downfall. This concept could be correlated to the acclaimed work of Sophocles, Oedipus Rex, whereby the epitome of a tragic hero is created in the main character, Oedipus. Moreover, Sophocles has characterized Oedipus to be the embodiment of a respectable leader, possessing both extreme pride and relentless determination, which later proves to be the fatal flaw leading to his eventual, inescapable demise. This is due to how Sophocles codified this†¦show more content†¦During the transition from the beginning to the end of his rule the hubris, or the excessive amount of pride in one’s character, expressed by Oedipus has transformed into what may be- ironically- identified as a god c omplex. The expression of admiration from Theban citizens towards Oedipus in recognition for being the king and hero of Thebes has inflated Oedipus’ self-worth to the point where it is not pride, but arrogance. â€Å"Here I am myself- you all known me, the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus.† (7-9, Oedipus Rex) While his ego escalates from the relentless devotion of his citizens Oedipus establishes a god complex of his own design, no longer caring about the gods nor fate, instead believing that destiny and the future are under his own control rather than being something predetermined.â€Å"You pray to the gods? Let me grant your prayers.† (245, Oedipus Rex) â€Å"You can’t hurt me or anyone else who sees the light- you can never touch me.† (427-8, Oedipus Rex) Oedipus even displays his authority when he refers to the chorus as his children, donning the role of a patriarch who assumes power over those he perceives as inferior or unworthy. In spite o f this, the honorable life Oedipus built for himself in Thebes shifts into one that is unrecognizable, as the truthShow MoreRelatedAn Analysis of Oedipus and Aristotles Definition of the Tragic Hero2569 Words   |  10 Pagesï » ¿An Analysis of Oedipus and Aristotles Definition of the Tragic Hero Introduction In the Poetics, Aristotle provides an outline of how the artist is to portray or represent the perfect Tragedy. A Tragedy, of course, was nothing more than a drama, in which the characters appeared better than in real life (in a comedy, they appeared worse, according to Aristotle). 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