How Is Oedipus A Tragic Hero

In the Greek tragedy of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus is a renowned and prosperous character. He is the ruler of a powerful kingdom and is revered very highly in the minds of his people (36). In this play we see the character of Oedipus fall from greatness to experience a catastrophe. Through the characterization of Oedipus, revealed through characters’ words and Oedipus’ actions, we see that he is a character who experiences a downfall due to the tragic flaw of hubris. Until his confrontation with Tiresias, Oedipus is seen as a character who is like a father figure to his people (63). He is revealed as caring man to the people and wants to see the sickness in the land healed and is willing to do anything to make the pollution of the land go away (12-13). However, when he calls upon the Oracle of Apollo, the characterization of his hubris is first revealed. Tiresias is referred to by Oedipus as, “lord, you alone are our savior and defender (319-320).” Only a man with excessive unchecked …show more content…
We see Oedipus experience a downfall in two ways. The first way is when after Jocasta’s suicide when Oedipus gouges his eyes out (1298-1301). He does this out of remorse for his actions, one of which can be assumed his hubris. The servant even says that Oedipus has no options because of his curses and that, “He wants to cast himself from the land and not stay at home accursed with his own curses (1320-1321).” Oedipus called one the profits of god blind in his hubris, but now as a result of his hubristic curses, Oedipus is the one who is truly blind (1343). The final downfall Oedipus experiences is when he must be exiled and leave his children. He is forced to surrender them by Creon saying, “Come, let go of the children (1549).” Because of the curses Oedipus made out of hubris, he experiences the downfall of losing his wife, losing his vision, losing his children, and losing his