Heroism In Oedipus The King

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Sophocles’s Oedipus is one of the most well-known and influential fictional figure in the history of literature primarily because of the fact that Oedipus symbolizes many things – as a hero, as a son, as a leader and as an example of the conflicting issues affecting morality. This particular hero is the center of the story. It’s about a boy who was thrown to the woods and was expected to meet his end there in the hopes that his death would render a prophecy unfulfilled. He would later find himself crossing paths once again with his true biological father whom he kills without knowing the true identity of the person he slew, thus, making the first prophecy a reality. When he later married his own biological mother upon his entry in his place …show more content…

He is also flawed and is a man who is characterized with errors. One of his flaws is his temper. It is because of his anger that has led to his killing his father. Another flaw of Oedipus is his belief that he is more powerful than destiny and fate. He believed that he could change the course of his life based on his own actions. This belief has sent him towards the path which he was trying to avoid. He believed that he can outrun destiny and change it over time, and this sense of overconfidence in what he can do doomed him. Had he been humble enough to allow destiny to reveal itself without any effort to change it, things would have been different. Of course, Oedipus cannot be blamed here. Any one would risk doing anything and everything hoping that things turn out for the …show more content…

Tragedy pertains to a sad ending to a story or a life. The tragic hero’s life is a tragedy not because of death per se. Every human being dies, but the essence of tragedy is seen in the details leading towards the death of the hero, a life characterized by misfortune that the tragic hero has to carry with him to his grave. This is a tragedy because even in his own death, Oedipus knew that there is nothing he can do to redeem himself from his sins. He is a hero because he tried to do the right thing but he only ends up doing the wrong things nonetheless. He was a tragic hero because while the audience praise him for his values, he is also forever stained by the reality that he can never be redeemed from his errors brought about by his flaws and weaknesses as a man who is powerless against the power of destiny and fate, which is a very significant ideal during the time of

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