Oedipus: The Tragic Hero

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does not realize that Laius was actually his dad and the former King of Thebes. Oedipus also concludes that Teiresias and Creon are plotting against him to gain the kingdom. In his confusion, Oedipus says, "What savage envy is stored up against these, if Creon, whom I trusted, Creon my friend, for this great office which the city once put my hands unsought- if for this power Creon desires in secret to destroy me!” Oedipus seeds the idea in his own mind that Teiresias, Creon, and all the people of Thebes are plotting against him which adds to his tragedy.

Oedipus remained oblivious about his destiny and even denied every account of it. Teiresias later exposes Oedipus by saying, "But the double lash of your parents curse will whip you out of this land someday, with only night upon your precious eyes" but Oedipus denies this and even curses the blind man but when Oedipus realizes what he has done, he blinds himself and is cast out of Thebes. He degrades himself in his exodus, stating that "Oedipus, noblest of all the line of Kadmos, have condemned myself to enjoy these things no more, by my own malediction expelling that man whom the gods declared to be a defilement in the house of Laius.”. Oedipus tortures himself for what he has done to himself and others.

Oedipus is one of the most famous and evident tragic heroes in all of literature, rivaling that of Othello and Macbeth. Tragic heroes are perfect characters except for a tragic flaw that leads to their inevitable downfall in the end. Oedipus has a great heart but his excessive pride, obliviousness, and lack of decent judgement get in the way of his decision making. Oedipus Rex has survived this long because Oedipus as a character helped to create the standard for a tragic hero.