OEDIPUS A TRAGIC HERO

Oedipus a Tragic Hero

According to Aristotle’s in the Poetics, certain characteristics must be met in order for the audience to be able to identify a tragic hero. First of all, a tragic hero must cause his own destruction; his punishment must be bigger than his crime. Secondly, a tragic hero must be a nobleman and have greatness or power. Finally the audience must feel sympathy and fear for the hero. I think based on these characteristics; Oedipus could definitely be considered a tragic hero. An Oracle told Oedipus that he would kill his father and marry he is mother. Oedipus trying to run from his own destiny decides to move to Thebes. On his way to Thebes, Oedipus kills a man, not knowing that this man he had just murdered was his biological father. In Thebes everybody is excited because Oedipus had just killed the Sphinx and as a token of their appreciation they make Oedipus the king and he gets to marry Jocasta, his biological mother. Oedipus doesn’t realize that murdering t...