Oedipus, an Ironic Tragic Hero
Oedipus, an Ironic Tragic Hero
Much of the tragedy of the play comes from the irony involved in fate Oedipus’s life. Being a tragic hero Oedipus is on a quest for truth, during his quest he realizes that if he continues on his quest for truth he will cause himself great harm yet he continues his pursuit for truth. The audience is seized by the ironic nature of this play, and the tragic nature of Oedipus’s life. Oedipus is lines up against fate and takes steps to try not to fulfill the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. In fact, Oedipus is horrified by this and ran away to try to escape his doom, yet fate had other plans for him and causes him to run directly to the place that he will fulfill his destiny. The irony is that Oedipus is dealt with unfairly by fate; however he is the maker of the events that plagues him. With the use of his free will Oedipus try’s to outsmart fate, nevertheless fate is able to mold his every decision to accomplish what fate wants his life to be. In the play Oedipus the King, Sophocles creates a memorable tragic hero through dramatic irony and the irony of fate.
In Sophocles tragic play, Oedipus the King, Oedipus is the tragic hero. Oedipus is the heroic king of Thebes. A tragic hero must be of noble status, important or influential, and be considered great by the audience. Oedipus is in love with his idealized self, he is on top of the world and his life falls apart during the play. He has tragic stature and has absolute commitment to finding out the truth no matter what the cause. Oedipus is an ironic tragic hero because he causes his own downfall; his fate is destined to be catastrophic. Oedipus, as the tragic hero, unknowingly makes a grave error in judgment, and must take responsibility and suffer the consequences of his action. Oedipus is a tragic hero because what happens to him matters in the play, and he is invested with the quality of integrity. He holds truth above all else, and aims to be good.
Much of the tragedy of the play comes from the irony involved in fate Oedipus’s life. Being a tragic hero Oedipus is on a quest for truth, during his quest he realizes that if he continues on his quest for truth he will cause himself great harm yet he continues his pursuit for truth. The audience is seized by the ironic nature of this play, and the tragic nature of Oedipus’s life. Oedipus is lines up against fate and takes steps to try not to fulfill the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. In fact, Oedipus is horrified by this and ran away to try to escape his doom, yet fate had other plans for him and causes him to run directly to the place that he will fulfill his destiny. The irony is that Oedipus is dealt with unfairly by fate; however he is the maker of the events that plagues him. With the use of his free will Oedipus try’s to outsmart fate, nevertheless fate is able to mold his every decision to accomplish what fate wants his life to be. In the play Oedipus the King, Sophocles creates a memorable tragic hero through dramatic irony and the irony of fate.
In Sophocles tragic play, Oedipus the King, Oedipus is the tragic hero. Oedipus is the heroic king of Thebes. A tragic hero must be of noble status, important or influential, and be considered great by the audience. Oedipus is in love with his idealized self, he is on top of the world and his life falls apart during the play. He has tragic stature and has absolute commitment to finding out the truth no matter what the cause. Oedipus is an ironic tragic hero because he causes his own downfall; his fate is destined to be catastrophic. Oedipus, as the tragic hero, unknowingly makes a grave error in judgment, and must take responsibility and suffer the consequences of his action. Oedipus is a tragic hero because what happens to him matters in the play, and he is invested with the quality of integrity. He holds truth above all else, and aims to be good.