Oedipus Tragic Hero

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Tragic Hero Essay
Imagine what it would be like to have your fate planned for you by oracles, gods, and prophecies, Oedipus did. Oedipus’ fate was foretold to his parents by the oracle. Laius and Jocasta were his parents, and when they heard the prophecy they had a messenger bring him to a mountain to die. The messenger instead gave him to another messenger who brought him to Corinth. He then found out about his prophecy and ran away from his adoptive parents, not knowing he was adopted. Oedipus is a tragic hero, he endured prophecies, royalty and nobility, battle scars, suffering, and tragedy.
When Oedipus was first born they took him to the oracle and the oracle gave him his prophecy “He was destined one day to kill his father, and to …show more content…

He was of royal blood from both parents and he defeat the Sphinx and saved Thebes. His birth parents were Jocasta and Laius and were the king and queen of Thebes, and his adopted parents were the king and queen of Corinth “…honored son of Corinth and loved foster-son of those whom he supposed to be his true parents.” [pg. 24]. He left after he found out about his prophecy and he was trying to protect what he thought was his true parents. On his journey away from Corinth he ran into Laius and killed his then defeated the sphinx “King Laius had been killed by an unknown traveler on a lonely road.” [pg. 24]. After he killed the sphinx, he was crowned king and married …show more content…

When he was first born his parents pierced his feet when he was going to be left for dead “its feet cruelly pierced with an iron pin.”. [pg. 23] He was then wounded again when Jocasta hung herself which caused him to stab his eyes with a pin “he pierced his eyeballs time and time again.” [pg. 61 line: 1309]. He was mentally wounded when he found out his wife was his mom, the prophecy was completed, and when Jocasta hung herself. The final blow was when he found out Jocasta was his mother and me married her. He was worried for their kids and what their future would be like.
When he found out that the prophecy was completed, he lost everything. He lost respect, his kingdom, his kids, and his wife/mom Jocasta “Sinful in my begetting, sinful in marriage, sinful in shedding of blood.” [pg. 58 line: 1190-1191]. It wasn’t his fault because he didn’t have control over his prophecy. He thought he avoided it until he found out he was adopted and he ran away for nothing. The story shows tragedy when he starts to lose everything and it falls apart. When his reign ended Creon casted him out of Thebes “Command no more. Obey. Your rule has ended.” [pg.68 line:

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