Sophocles Oedipus Rex: The Hero's Hamartia

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Recommended: Oedipus Tragic Hero Essay

Sarah Fishwick
Alixx Ortiz-Roberts
CH 201.1003.1304
18 October 2017
The Hero’s Hamartia Aristotle describes a tragic hero to have three main characteristics; they must be with high social standing, have moral goodness, and fall into misfortune due to a defect of character known as “hamartia” (Gillani). Oedipus in Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, is a tragic hero whose hamartia is revealed to be his ruthless need for the truth, which eventually leads to his downfall. Sophocles first introduces Oedipus as the powerful, mighty King of Thebes (Sophocles, 4). Oedipus is raised by royalty; however, he becomes King of Thebes not through lineage, but by defeating the Sphinx with his intellect. After completing this feat, he marries Jocasta, the Queen of Thebes, which puts Oedipus on the throne next to her. As a King, Oedipus is wealthy and influential, …show more content…

The Oracle of Delphi states that the plague was brought on by the murder of the previous King, Laius, and the sickness will only fade once the killer has received justice (Sophocles, 8). Upon hearing this information, Oedipus seeks to find the murderer. It is this continuous search that leads Oedipus to his downfall. Despite his wife Jocasta begging Oedipus to stop investigating, Oedipus tells her he won’t listen to her cries, for the truth must be discovered (Sophocles, 56-57). Oedipus’ investigations lead to his discovery that he is the killer of Laius, his real father, which in turn means Oedipus married and had children with his mother, Jocasta. Had Oedipus not gone to such lengths to solve the murder of Laius, he would have not known the truth of his own actions (Gillani). Realizing his acts of murder and incest plagued the City of Thebes and lead to the suicide of Jocasta, Oedipus blinds himself so he cannot see the sight he created; therefore, exploiting Oedipus’ demand for the truth as the hamartia of his tragic

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