The Tragic Figure In Oedipus Rex By Sophocles

On the last page of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, the quote “Therefore we must call no man happy while he waits to see his last day, not until he has passed the border of life and death without suffering pain”(Sophocles 108), embodies the moral of the tragic play. Even though Oedipus tries to take control of his free will, he only makes his fate come true. No man is happy until he is at peace, and he is only at peaces when he is dead after that man has suffered in his life. In the play, Oedipus shows the characteristics of Aristotle’s definition of a tragic figure making the audience feel pity for Oedipus.
The King of Thebes, Oedipus, is known for his nobility by the people of Thebes and for showing his compassion to the people. The Thebans prove to noble Oedipus that he can save them when the priest tells Oedipus “You came to us once and liberated out city, you freed us from the tribute which we paid that cruel singer, the Sphinx” (3), making Oedipus try to believe in himself so that he would solve the problem to the plague. Oedipus was worshipped by the Thebans who thought he “had power to whom all men turn” (3), revealing their opinion of Oedipus is above regular citizens, but still under the Gods. All of Thebes knew Oedipus to be …show more content…
He tries everything to remove the “vile object”(4), causing the abuse, but he does not know it is his fault. Being shielded from the truth, when Tiresias tells Oedipus “you are the murderer, you are the unholy defilement of this truth” (23), Oedipus does not accept what he believes to be a lie, but is actually the truth. After learning the truth about his past Oedipus can not stand to see the truth, so he turns and proclaims to all “I stand revealed - born in shame married in shame, an unnatural murderer”(89), making the audience realize that Oedipus’ actions were