Tragic Heroes: Noble Birth, Fatal Flaw, and Ruin

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Tragedy; it’s inevitable. In life, everyone is bound to experience a rough time. These rough times and flaws are what test a hero and build character. Someone experiencing hard times transforms an average person and his mistakes into something remarkable and heroic. What characteristics make a him a tragic hero rather than just an ordinary person? A hero is a person who is admired for courageous acts, noble qualities and outstanding achievements. Despite possessing the same qualities as an ordinary hero, a tragic hero, who is born a noble birth and usually male, has a fatal flaw that ultimately leads to his ruin. The hero 's flaws can range vastly. Tragically, however, the flaws possessed with eventually ruin the person 's reputation and also …show more content…

No different when Oedipus calls Teiresias to come to Thebes. When Tiresias arrives Oedipus demands that he tell him what happens, although Tiresias refuses. However, Oedipus pushes him to tell him out of pure frustration. “I say you are the murderer of the king whose murder you see,” (Teiresias. II. 415-416)! Oedipus is quick to respond and speaks without thinking if he had ever killed someone. “Not twice you shall say calumnies like this and stay unpunished,” (Oedipus. II. 417-418). Oedipus vocalizes this without recollecting. If Oedipus thought back to the time he killed a man at the crossroads, the murder could have been solved and the people of Thebes could have suffered less. Oedipus also reacts irrationally when Creon suggest again that Oedipus is the murdered. He speaks to Jocasta and says, “He’s right, Jocasta, for I find him plotting,” (“Oedipus Rex” I. 750). Afresh, Oedipus believes that anyone that accuses or suggest he is the murderer, he automatically thinks they are a traitor. Oedipus has a tendency to think irrationally and not reflect on his past and makes impulsive

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