Oedipus Tragic Flaw

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“Time, which watches everything / and uncovered you against your will” (1453-1454). Time reveals everything. In Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, the main character’s, Oedipus, prophecy unveils over time. Aristotle’s definition of a Greek tragedy must include a complete moment, a tragic hero, a tragic action, a darker side of human nature, a catharsis, and a tragic flaw. In Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, the complete moment is when Oedipus curses the murderer and begins investigating Laius’, the king of Thebes, death, Oedipus discusses the killer with Teiresias, a prophet, and when Oedipus discovers that he killed Laius. Oedipus Rex is the tragic hero with a tragic flaw; pride. Other important elements Aristotle believes that create a perfect tragedy …show more content…

A tragic flaw is having too much of a normally admirable human emotion. This allows for the audience to connect with the tragic hero. Oedipus’s tragic flaw is pride, which is evident when he says, “But I will never steal myself dishonored. / I see myself as a child of Fortune” (1298-1299). He has too much pride, which makes it a tragic flaw. Oedipus’s pride has stood in the way of the truth. For example, Oedipus calls himself a child of the great gods, however, he argues with these gods. Oedipus cannot see past what he believes because of his pridefulness. Another characteristic of a tragic hero is a change in fortune. This is the moment when the tragic hero’s fortune changes from good to bad. Oedipus experiences this change in fortune after he discovers the truth about his prophecy. “Don’t try to keep control of everything. You have lost the power your life once had” (1803-1804). Oedipus was the king of Thebes and was the man that everyone looked up to. Once the truth is revealed, Oedipus starts to fall. Creon, Oedipus’s brother-in-law, now has the power as king. Creon tells Oedipus that he cannot tell people what to do anymore because he is not the king anymore. Once the tragic hero falls, there is a moment where the audience feels pity and fear. Aristotle considers this moment the catharsis. “No, no! / do not take them away from me” (1801–1802). Once Oedipus has blinded himself, lost all his power, and is soon to be exiled, the audience has a moment of catharsis. Oedipus says goodbye to his daughters before leaving Thebes. When it is time to leave, Oedipus does not want to leave his daughters, which causes the audience to feel sympathy toward him. Oedipus fits Aristotle’s idea of a tragic hero perfectly because he has a tragic flaw, change in fortune, and a moment of

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