“Oedipus” And his Tragic Flaw It has been said that all tragic heroes possess tragic flaws. Whether this statement applies to Oedipus of “Oedipus” the King‚ written by Sophocles‚ is still a matter of much debate even centuries after its debut. If Oedipus bares a “tragic flaw‚” then he is a man‚ and therefore is able to exercise his free will in determining his fate. If‚ however‚ Oedipus is a tragic hero without a flaw‚ then he is said to be a mere “puppet” in his story; no matter what decisions
Premium Oedipus Oedipus the King Sophocles
Tragedy and its Tragic Heroes Tragedy: A story that tells of the ruin of a great man. In tragedies the main character can sometimes be characterized as a tragic hero. A tragic hero is “a literary character‚ who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw‚”(Merriam Webster) which is actually their downfall. In Oedipus The King‚ the main character‚ the king of Thebes‚ is seen as the tragic hero on this particular tragedy. Now‚ fast-forwarding through time to 1949 Arthur Miller wrote Death
Premium Tragic hero Character Tragedy
Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a tragedy which is built upon moral and emotional conflicts and casts a doubt in reader/audience’s mind about the personality of the protagonist. Unlike Shakespeare’s other tragic heroes‚ who take quick action‚ Hamlet is often characterized with idealism and procrastination. He is posed by big philosophical questions and preoccupied with his thoughts. This preoccupation lends an aura to the audience that Hamlet’s tragic flaw lies in his inaction. William Hazlitt claims
Premium Hamlet Tragic hero Mind
Jealousy and Gullibility: The Devastating Flaws of Othello By: Ryan Mongon "The tragic flaw is the most important part of the hero and the events that occur in the work is a reflection of that flaw." Aristotle The plot of William Shakespeare’s Othello is a tale of love‚ jealousy‚ and betrayal; however‚ the characters‚ themes‚ and attitudes of the works are different‚ with Shakespeare’s play being a more involved study of human nature and psychology. Othello is considered to be a prime example of
Premium Othello
Romeo’s Tragic Flaws Leading To His Demise The noble hero in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is Romeo. His tragic flaw is that he is in love with being in love and his impetuous personality towards certain situations. Shakespeare’s play‚ Romeo and Juliet‚ is about an eighteen year old young man‚ and a 13 year old girl who fall in love so hastily. But it is not an easy love due to the fighting between the Montague’s and the Capulet’s. Romeo seems to be the one who is very pushy when it comes to
Premium Romeo and Juliet Characters in Romeo and Juliet
22 May 2010 Oedipus and his Tragic Character In the play Oedipus the King we identify the classic tragic hero. The character‚ Oedipus Rex plays the role of the tragic hero perfectly. He shows the three main characteristics being talented and of noble birth‚ possessing a tragic flaw that causes the downfall and pain of everyone‚ and the recognition of responsibility. Oedipus’s first characteristic of being a tragic hero is being talented and of noble birth. Oedipus is talented
Premium Oedipus Oedipus the King Tragic hero
Tragedy involves the downfall of a hero as a result of his tragic flaw. How true is this? It is not simply the existence of a tragic flaw that is the sole causation of the demise of the hero and other significant characters but rather the interplay between the negative externalities and the hero’s actions as a result of his tragic flaws which does so. In Shakespeare’s Elizabethan tragedy Othello‚ Othello’s hamartia arises from a magnified sense of jealousy‚ hubris and misplaced trust brought
Premium Othello Poetics Tragic hero
‘Gloucester is no less a tragic figure than his king’. By considering the role and dramatic presentation of Gloucester in ‘King Lear’‚ evaluate this view. (30 Marks) King Lear and Gloucester are similar to an extent of being tragic heroes‚ because they both experience the traditional features of a classic tragedy. Both characters go through the features of hubris‚ hamartia and culminates with anagnorisis. Shakespeare employs the double plot in ‘King Lear’‚ the only Shakespearean tragedy to employ two similar
Premium Tragic hero William Shakespeare Tragedy
Macbeth: Macbeth A Tragic Hero - His Strengths‚ His Weaknesses‚ His Tragic Flaw and the Effect of Outside Influences on His Nature The contributions of Macbeth towards his fate in becoming the "tragic hero" is evident from the first act. Like other of Shakespearean plays‚ the tragic hero‚ Macbeth‚ is noble‚ honourable and highly respected by the general public at the start of the play. Unfortunately Macbeth contributes to his own fate more than what is implied. What seems to be his strengths‚ backfires
Premium Macbeth
What is Oedipus’ tragic flaw? Tragic flaw is a failing of character in a hero of a tragedy that brings about his downfall. Oedipus appears to have many flaws on the surface namely his selfish temperament‚ curiosity and of course his hubris or excessive pride. Firstly‚ his superiority and projection of ego is proved in exposition‚ when Oedipus shows a paternalistic attitude towards his subjects by calling people ‘’children’’ about four times. Furthermore there is a repetition of
Premium Tiresias Oedipus Sophocles