Silva 1Albert SilvaEnglish 101Joseph Pendleton09/19/2014Such a Tragic HeroAristotle's definintion of a tragic hero truely describes Oedipus. The tragic hero must be of noble stature and have greatness. Though the tragic hero is pre-eminently great, he is not perfect. The hero's downfall is partially his own fault, the result of free choice, not of accidental means. The hero's misfortune is not wholly deserved and the punishment exceeds the crime. The fall is not pure loss. And though it arouses solemn emotion, tragedy does not leave the audience in a state of depression. Using Aristotle's definition of a tragic hero, we will show that Oedipus in Oedipus the King is in fact a tragic hero and how his decisions led to his downfall.Oedipus grew up the son of a king. This alone would give him all rights to being born of a noble stature. As we learn in the story this stays true since his real father was King Laius. When Oedipus left his fathers castle to escape from a prophecy he came across and new city in need of help. This is when Oedipus proved that he is greatness. He destroyed the Sphinx from hurting Thebes. Thus, proving what a great man he was. After this Oedipus married Jocasta, queen of Thebes, becoming the king of Thebes.For you came here, to our Cadmeian city, 40and freed us from the tribute we were payingto that cruel singer-and yet you knewno more than we did and had not been taught. pg.5A tragic hereos downfall will be his own fault. Oedipus is easily angered and this was first shown when a stranger spoke of a prophecy that he didn't want to hear. So, in order to prevent the prophecy he fled. From the beginning he could not accept the truth from anyone and felt that they were against him.O riches, ruling power, skill after skillsurpassing all in this life's rivalries,how much envy you must carry with you,if, for this kingly office, which the city 460gave me, for I did not seek it out,Creon, my old trusted family friend,has secretly conspired to overthrow meand paid off a double-dealing quack like this,a crafty bogus priest, who can only seehis own advantage, who in his special artis absolutely blind.When Creon tries to help him and tells him what the God's had said about Oedipus he couldn't accept it. So unwilling to accept it he tried to banish Creon as a trader. Oedipus' biggest downfall is himself, his stubborn way to block out what is right in front of him.The tragic hereos Misfortune will not be wholly deserved. After learning that everything Oedipus ran from was actually what he ran right into he couldn't bare to put his city in any more ruins. The prophecy played its self out any way. Oedipus killed his father, wed his mother and made children with his mother. Of course he would blame is self for what happend instead of the two people who are truely responsible, his mother and father.O the dark horror wrapped around me,this nameless visitor I can't resistswept here by fair and fatal winds.Alas for me! And yet again, alas for me!The agony of stabbing broochespierces me! The memory of aching shame!Ending his misfortune in blindness and exile. Choosing this because he felt he did not deserve happiness from his actions. His children would have a better life without him and his people, the city would be cured and saved if he was not there.After using Aristotle's description of a tragic hero we have no choice but to see that Oedipus is a tragic hero. He was born to be greatness even though he had crossing paths. He started to spiral downward in the ending of his life due to his own downfalls of not accepting the truth. In the end his misfortunes were really excessive for the crime that was originally set by his parents. Last he never stopped being the saviour in the end he saved the city and left them with a ruler they loved. They tried to change the prophecy but it came true anyway.Work CitedSophocles Oedipus the king, Trans Ian Johnson victorvilleVictorvalley college, 2014 web
