Oedipus Is A Tragic Hero

What is a tragic hero? A tragic hero is ” a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat.” According to Sophocles, the ideal tragic hero is a king or a man of noble stature. The tragic hero is a generous person and his downfall results from his committing of an act of injustice through ignorance. His fate may contribute to his downfall, or even his own choices or actions. But sometimes the hero’s misfortune is not deserved. The tragic fall usually results in the tragic hero’s gain of self awareness. A tragic hero is a king or a prince. Oedipus said “I Oedipus, your world-renowned king.” (Sophocles2) In Oedipus the King, Oedipus was the son of the kings of Thebes,he has the
After a while, she knew that she had been married and conceived children with her own son, but she didn’t want Oedipus nor herself to believe that was true. When Oedipus knew the truth he went to see Jocasta and saw her dead. He felt devastated. He took the golden brooches that held the queenly robe s and plunged his eyeballs out. He no longer wanted to see anything. What was ironic is before that, he could see but was as if he was blind; he couldn’t see the truth, unaware. But now that he’s blind, he can “see now”. He was aware of things now; he punished himself. He told the people “ O, i implore you, hide me anywhere Far from this land, or kill me now, and cast me Down to the depths of ocean out of sight.” (Sophocles39)
Oedipus has every characteristics of a tragic hero. Everything what Sophocles described a tragic hero, it described Oedipus. Although he was a good person, the past haunted and followed him. What he did in the past affected him. Killing King Laius was a misfortuned and cursed him. After being revealed, he wanted to be exiled, to be banished, to be banished, or killed he didn't want to be there no more. He punished himself by taking his eyes out. He is the perfect description of a tragic