Oedipus Rex

Oedipus Rex a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles is considered by Aristotle, one of the most important and influential philosophers of all time, the model of Greek tragedy and Oedipus as the model of a tragic hero. Oedipus character in this Greek tragedy perfectly fits Aristotle’s description of real tragic hero.

Oedipus was not entirely a flawed or evil person, but he is a person who also has good character. Oedipus good characteristics were most present in the first scenes of the play. Oedipus is shown as a leader who has respect and love for his people. In the first scene where the people of Thebes were asking Oedipus to free their city from the plague, Oedipus wholeheartedly helps his people by listening to them. This good side of Oedipus is best shown when he states: “Tell me, and never doubt that I will help you in everyway I can; I should be heartless…” (Sophocles, Oedipus Rex, line 13-14). Being good to the people of Thebes is not only Oedipus’s good characteristics, Oedipus is also intelligent. Oedipus’s intelligence freed Thebes from the Sphinx’s curse by answering an extremely hard riddle.

Oedipus is also a man of quick action. Even before the people of Thebes asked Oedipus for help, Oedipus had already sent Kreon to the oracle of Delphi to ask for help. Aristotle’s description of a tragic hero fits on Oedipus character.

According to Aristotle a tragic hero is someone who is not entirely good, nor entirely evil. Oedipus’s is not an evil man because there is good in his character but that doesn’t mean he’s not flawed. Oedipus gets overconfident sometimes. In the first scene where the people of Thebes were asking Oedipus for help about the plague in their city, Oedipus shows arrogance as he proclaims his name proudly as if it will answer everyone’s problem: “I, Oedipus, who bear the famous name.” (Sophocles, Oedipus Rex, line 10). Another flaw of Oedipus that’s present in the play is that he sometimes he doesn’t think before he acts. This flaw led him to accuse Kreon and Teirisias of plotting to take his throne. Oedipus biggest flaw is his temper. Oedipus gets angry easily this is shown on the scene where he was asking Teirisias questions about the murder of King Laios. His anger made him throw insults to Teirisias. His anger was a big part of his downfall, this is shown when