Tragedy’s greatest feature is the ability to expose human weakness in the worst light possible. When a character’s free will is overcome by a trait that leads to their own downfall, the goal of tragedy is effective. Often a character can fit into the title of a “tragic hero” easily, because they are simply a character. When realistic characteristics are employed into a character’s development, the label does not match. When comparing Oedipus in Oedipus the King and Hamlet in Hamlet, there are many features that make them similar, but, upon further study, it is revealed that Hamlet is too complex to fit the simple label of “tragic hero”.
Sophocles’ Oedipus the King is the ideal example of a tragic hero. The intricate nature of Oedipus' tragic
Sophocles’ Oedipus the King is the ideal example of a tragic hero. The intricate nature of Oedipus' tragic