Essay on Oedipus The Reign of a Tragic Hero - 1266 Words

The time period of Greek theater’s popularity was a very influential time in our world’s history. Without knowing what Greek theater was all about, how can someone expect to truly understand a tragic play and the history it comes with? The history behind the character of Oedipus, in the play Oedipus the King, is very complicated. His intricate past dealing with prophecies, family members, and murder is the main focus of the story. There are many characteristics that complete Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero; these being the presence of hamartia and peripeteia, a sense of self-awareness, the audience’s pity for the character, and the hero is of noble birth. Greek Tragedy Theater rose to its peak in Athens around the 5th century†¦show more content†¦When referring to the play, Oedipus the King, many people question whether Oedipus should have the title of a tragic hero based on the events that take place in the play. When deciding if this label is true, we must look into some of the significant elements that make up the character of a tragic hero. There are five important foundations that I will be focusing in on that distinguish a tragic hero from a regular character in a play. According to Sophocles Oedipus the King: A Readers Guide, hamartia, peripeteia, noble birth, self-awareness, and audience pity are five central pieces of the story. These selected elements are equally crucial and are very important parts of who the character is and how the story ultimately pans out. The first aspect of the characterization of a tragic hero is the presence of hamartia, which by definition is the fatal flaw leading to the tragic downfall of a hero. This fatal mistake is often also known as the climax of the tragedy. The presence of hamartia are common in most, if not all Greek tragedy plays. Oedipus proclaims, â€Å"Apollo, when we sent to him, sent us back word that this great pestilence would life, but only if we established clearly the identity of those who murdered Laios. They must be killed or exiled.† This moment in the play, which can be found in the textbook, can be categorized as Oedipus’ major flaw. He didn’t know it yet, but he is ultimately inflicting punishment on himselfShow MoreRelatedOedipus The King : A Tragic Hero987 Words   |  4 PagesLike most greek tragedies, Oedipus the King had a tragic hero whose downfall was the result of a tragic flaw. Oedipus, like other greek characters, did not see his errors until his reign was coming to an end. Oedipus, the man who saved Thebes did not understand that every good thing must come to an end. A tragic hero defined by Aristotle has five characteristics that lead to their downfall and their understanding of why the situation happened. 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