“The Greek philosopher Aristotle defined ‘tragedy’ as a dramatization of a serious happening,” however in adding to the definition, a tragedy is “showing a struggle that rends the protagonist’s whole being,” (Barnet, Burto, and Cain, p. 1014). “Oedipus the King” is an example of one such tragedy, which we will show examples of. We will also determine if Oedipus is a hero in this story and if Oedipus deserved the fate that was decided.
“Oedipus the King” is a complex story with twists and turns that are all revealed by the end of the story, the main character wrestles throughout the story against a prophecy that is intended to bring a tragic fate. There is an expression that ties into this tragic story line, which is, “we can’t look away,” …show more content…
He is considered this because he “freed the people of Thebes from the Sphinx and cut them loose from the death the Sphinx brought to their city because he was able to answer a riddle that was previously unanswered by everyone else that attempted to solve the riddle of the Sphinx” (Barnet, Burto, and Cain, line 44-46, p. 1021-1022). Oedipus is also considered a hero because “he was taught nothing in regards to solving the riddles. He had no skill, no extra knowledge, still, he triumphed; the people of Thebes believed that a god was with Oedipus and it’s because of him that their lives were lifted from the curse of the Sphinx” (Barnet, Burto, and Cain, line 46-49, p. 1022). The irony in the set of events that took place is that Oedipus who thought himself a savior as well; “the world knows my fame” is on crash course towards a dreadful destiny that he thought he had alluded when he ran away from where he grew up, only to run to his true birth city of …show more content…
1020). This implies that he sees himself as a father type figure over his land and his people. King Oedipus also shows sympathy and great concern for his people when the people of Thebes come to his “alter” in suffering and they are pleading to their king for help to which he replies; “why are you here kneeling…what is wrong? You can trust me. I am ready to help, I’ll do anything; I would be blind to not pity my people who are kneeling at my feet” (Barnet, Burto, and Cain, line 11-15, p. 1021). This shows the level of Oedipus’s moral compass and parental concern. Oedipus wants to help and take away the pain as any parent would for their own child, which again points back to why he refers to his people as “children.” He also shows that he is ready to do what it takes to take away the pain that is plaguing his people, and shows the maturity of a great king by saying, “you can trust me. I’m ready to help” as noted
“Oedipus the King” is a complex story with twists and turns that are all revealed by the end of the story, the main character wrestles throughout the story against a prophecy that is intended to bring a tragic fate. There is an expression that ties into this tragic story line, which is, “we can’t look away,” …show more content…
He is considered this because he “freed the people of Thebes from the Sphinx and cut them loose from the death the Sphinx brought to their city because he was able to answer a riddle that was previously unanswered by everyone else that attempted to solve the riddle of the Sphinx” (Barnet, Burto, and Cain, line 44-46, p. 1021-1022). Oedipus is also considered a hero because “he was taught nothing in regards to solving the riddles. He had no skill, no extra knowledge, still, he triumphed; the people of Thebes believed that a god was with Oedipus and it’s because of him that their lives were lifted from the curse of the Sphinx” (Barnet, Burto, and Cain, line 46-49, p. 1022). The irony in the set of events that took place is that Oedipus who thought himself a savior as well; “the world knows my fame” is on crash course towards a dreadful destiny that he thought he had alluded when he ran away from where he grew up, only to run to his true birth city of …show more content…
1020). This implies that he sees himself as a father type figure over his land and his people. King Oedipus also shows sympathy and great concern for his people when the people of Thebes come to his “alter” in suffering and they are pleading to their king for help to which he replies; “why are you here kneeling…what is wrong? You can trust me. I am ready to help, I’ll do anything; I would be blind to not pity my people who are kneeling at my feet” (Barnet, Burto, and Cain, line 11-15, p. 1021). This shows the level of Oedipus’s moral compass and parental concern. Oedipus wants to help and take away the pain as any parent would for their own child, which again points back to why he refers to his people as “children.” He also shows that he is ready to do what it takes to take away the pain that is plaguing his people, and shows the maturity of a great king by saying, “you can trust me. I’m ready to help” as noted