Oedipus Tyrannus: A Tragic Hero

A man doesn't become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall. This saying from Aristotle, one the most well-known Greek philosophers known today, compliments his theory that each tragic hero possesses five specific characteristics. These five characteristics include the possession of a hamartia, a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero; peripeteia, reversal of fortune; anagnorisis, moments where a critical discovery is made; hubris, excessive pride; and nemesis, fate greater than deserved. Furthermore, these five characteristics are what ultimately lead to the hero’s downfall. In the Greek tragedy Oedipus Tyrannus by Sophocles, Oedipus, the king of Thebes, finds that he fulfilled a prophecy by killing his own father

Firstly, Oedipus was devastated to discover he killed Laius, “I killed him… I am the one who whom strangers and citizens are forbidden to speak! I am the one who must be driven out!” (Sophocles 19). This was the first discovery that led to Oedipus’ meltdown and exilement. Knowing that he was the one who must be avenged was too much for him to handle, and this was only the beginning of his spiral that proved that his fate was inevitable. Secondly, Oedipus was horrified to find that his wife was also his mother, “Father and son alike, pleasures you took from where once you were given life” (28). While still shocked and appalled over the fact that he killed Laius, Oedipus discovered he was also the brother to his own children; this was news he couldn’t recover from. This realization not only led to misery for Oedipus, but it also led to the suicide of Jocasta, Oedipus’ wife and mother, making him only fill with more sorrow. The last major discovery for Oedipus was his realization that he fulfilled his dreaded prophecy, “O God! O no! I see it now! All clear! O Light! I will never look on you again! Sin! Sin in my birth! Sin in my marriage! Sin in blood!” (27). Before all of these events, Oedipus thought his prophecy was absurd since none of it followed his life thus far. However, he discovered that all things that had once brought him happiness were the products of his

Though all five characteristics included in Aristotle’s theory of a tragic hero fit the description of Oedipus, the three discussed are the most prominent. Without Oedipus’ fatal flaws, his prophecy would never had been fulfilled. In addition, if it weren’t for his realizations of sin, Oedipus wouldn’t have caused his own downfall. Lastly, without his excessive pride, Oedipus would never had done most of the actions that fulfilled his prophecy. Therefore, without these three characteristics, the play would be completely different. In conclusion, the element that makes Oedipus Tyrannus such as phenomenal tragedy is the fact that Oedipus perfectly fits Aristotle's definition of a tragic