Analysis of Tragic Hero in Oedipus Rex - Special Academic Support

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Oedipus is a tragic hero in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. Sophocles is a Greek dramatist born near Athens, Greece. It was written around 429 BC and Aristotle called it the greatest example of tragedy in his important work, Poetics. Aristotle in Poetics praises Oedipus Rex as a perfect example of tragedy because it has all the components necessary to fulfill Aristotle’s definition of tragedy. So now, what is a tragedy? The tragedy is a form of drama based on human suffering, dealing with tragic events, and having an unhappy ending, especially one concerning the downfall of the main character or the protagonist. Aristotle depicts one of that tragedies, the downfall of basically a good person through some fatal errors or misjudgment, producing suffering in the protagonist and arousing pity and fear, which is also called Catharsis, like a cleansing of the emotion of the characters. An example, when Oedipus blinded himself with the brooch pin, blood all over his face creates a sense of fear while he was blinding himself to cause committing suicide, and Oedipus’s decision of self and his speech to his ill-fated daughter creates a sense of pity. So, the audience feels pity and fear for Oedipus as the punishment is quite severe during the dramatic actions.

Tragic Hero: In a literary piece like a tragedy, a tragic hero is a person who is suffering from that character flaws or makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his downfall. The tragic hero is different from than normal hero. A tragic hero has flaws.

Oedipus is a Tragic Hero with Aristotle’s concept of tragedy and tragic hero.

‘A man cannot become a hero until he can see the root of his downfall.’ (Poetics)

Aristotle believes that only real heroes can identify their weakness and prevent it.

A tragic hero discovers his mistake by himself. He comes to a point of enlightenment. At this point, he realizes the mistake of his character, a moment of Anagnorisis.

The tragic hero must develop from a state of ignorance into a state of knowledge. If he doesn’t realize his own mistake, it means there is no development in his character.

eg:- when a messenger comes and reveals to king Oedipus his true birth leading to the resolution of the story. Oedipus then recognizes his queen Jocasta as his real mother and whom he killed at a crossroads as his real father. Secrets are revealed. This moment of recognition is an Anagnorisis. He discovers the truth about his real identity.

‘Tragedy is an imitation of nobles’

(Poetics)

A tragic hero is a man of noble stature, not an ordinary man, but a man with outstanding quality and greatness about him. His destruction is for a greater cause or principle.

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