Ideal Tragic Hero: Oedipus the King by Sophocles

Table of Contents

Introduction
Analysis
Conclusion
Work Cited

Introduction

The tale of King Oedipus has become one of the best-known Greek tragedies, mostly due to the controversial nature of the fate that Oedipus meets. However, stepping away from the specified controversy and considering character development, one will have to point out that Oedipus is the perfect tragic hero. Due to the presence of an error of judgment in the plot, the fate of King Oedipus derails in the way that aligns with six main characteristics of a tragic hero, thus making him an ideal representation of it.

Analysis

Oedipus the King incorporates the six essential characteristics of a tragic character, namely, hubris (pride), hamartia (error of judgment), peripeteia (challenges caused by the said error), anagnorisis (recognition of the error), nemesis (downfall), and catharsis (emotional response in the audience). Specifically, the error of judgment, which hurts Oedipus hubris, namely, his image of himself as the ideal king of Thebes. The described change is portrayed in the following line: For how unaided could I track it far/Without a clue? (Sophocles). The observed shift in Oedipus perception of himself is followed by multiple peripeteia, which completely destroy his confidence.

The anagnorisis, which comes at the moment of Oedipus realization of the tragedy of his situation also aligns with the main characteristics of the tragic hero. Namely, the following line emphasizes the denouement of his character development: Of insolence is bred/The tyrant (Sophocles).

Eventually, the character arc of the ideal tragic hero is completed after Oedipus faces his nemesis and, ultimately, the catharsis of the situation being revealed to him: To learn my lineage, be it neer so low (Sophocles). Combined into a single tragic misconception, caused by hubris, the described characteristics make Oedipus character align with every element of an ideal tragic hero description.

Conclusion

Oedipus the King introduces a unique narrative allowing for the character development that meets the six main criteria of an ideal tragic hero. Therefore, Oedipus can be considered the exact representation of such, with his fate having ben predetermined by his hubris. As Oedipus witnesses his own downfall, he recognizes the role that his pride played in this tragedy, which cements his image as the ultimate tragic hero.