Oedipus Tragic Hero

The classical, universal dramas written in the classical period of Greek history have withstood the test of time. Well know writers have shared views, concerns, laughs and tears with audience after audience. Ranging in styles, writers have worked to bring light to injustice, clarity to the questions of life, and humility to the ones who sit enthroned in society. Greek drama was more than just entertaining, it was also enlightening. A key component of dramas is the idea of “tragic hero”. A tragic hero held the spotlight of the drama to amplify the message of the script. One story that sparked much discussion and interest was Oedipus the King by Sophocles. The story of Oedipus is considered one of the best examples of a “tragic hero”. Greek drama can be better understood in light of understanding how Oedipus in Sophocles’ Oedipus the King is a strong example of a tragic hero.
Aristotle defined a tragic hero to be a man, noble in stature, with outstanding quality about him, who has a “tragic flaw”, or character trait, that leads him to his downfall. Essentially, a tragic hero is a man who would never be expected to be overcome by difficulty (Warrington). A true tragic hero is of noble birth, therefor making him some type of royalty or ruler.
One script, named Oedipus the King or Oedipus Rex focuses on the events which reflect a story of a tragic hero. In Oedipus the King, our hero Oedipus is the king of a land called Thebes. Thebes is plague-stricken and the people are seeking answers from the king. An important detail to note from the beginning of the play is that Oedipus is also grieving from the current circumstance. He has sent Creon, his brother-in-law, to the oracles for answers for the people of Thebes. Reports from the oracle suggest that the plague is directly related with the murder of Laius, the late king of Thebes. Noble Oedipus then takes it upon himself to seek justice for the murder of