According to Aristotle's specific definition of a tragic hero, it can be concluded that Oedipus is a tragic hero. Oedipus The King was written by a well-known tragic playwright named Sophocles. This story is considered one of the greatest tragedies of all time. In fact, Marjorie Barstow of Classical Weekly says it "fulfills the function of a tragedy and arouses fear and pity in the highest degree" (Barstow). It is also very controversial because of the relationship Oedipus has with his mother, although it was not known at the time that they were related. According to Aristotle, the qualifications of a tragic hero include being from a royal family and falling from power due to actions for which only the protagonist can take responsibility. The main character must also have a tragic flaw, defined as a “weakness of character” (Gioia). There have been many protagonists in other plays who depict a tragic hero, but none exemplify the traits of Aristotle's tragic hero as well as Oedipus for many reasons, including his royal history, his tragic flaw, his hamartia and his fall from power. Being part of a royal family was the primary qualification for being a tragic hero, according to Aristotle. Oedipus was originally born into a royal family. He was the son of Lauis and Jocasta, who were king and queen of Thebes. After his birth, a prophet told his father that Oedipus would eventually rise up and kill his father. Not wanting to risk being killed, Lauis tied Oedipus's feet with chains and threw him into the desert to be adopted or die. He thought that by getting rid of his son, the prophecy would not come true. Oedipus ended up being adopted by the ki...... middle of paper ......Ahenkora, and Adwoah S. Amankwah. “The tragic hero of the classical period.” Studies in English Language and Literature 2.3 (2012): 10-7. ProQuest. Internet. March 3, 2014. Baldick, Chris. “Tragic fault.” Get it @ LU. Proquest, 2008. Web. March 03, 2014.Barstow, Marjorie. "Oedipus Rex as Aristotle's Ideal Tragic Hero." Classical Association of the Atlantic States, nd Web. March 3, 2014. Gioia, Dana and XJ Kennedy. “Critical work: Sophocles. » Literature: introduction to fiction, poetry, theater and writing. 7th ed. Np: Pearson Longman., nd 949-86. Print.Gioia, Dana and XJ Kennedy. “Critical work: Sophocles. » Literature: introduction to fiction, poetry, theater and writing. 7th ed. Np: Pearson Longman., nd 945-48. Print.Sheehan, Sean. "Reader's Guides: "Oedipus the King" by Sophocles" Invocation. Continuum International Publishing, March 2012. Web. March 3. 2014.

Essay / According to Aristotle's specific definition of a tragic hero, it can be concluded that Oedipus is a tragic hero. Oedipus The King was written by a well-known tragic playwright named Sophocles. This story is considered one of the greatest tragedies of all time. In fact, Marjorie Barstow of Classical Weekly says it "fulfills the function of a tragedy and arouses fear and pity in the highest degree" (Barstow). It is also very controversial because of the relationship Oedipus has with his mother, although it was not known at the time that they were related. According to Aristotle, the qualifications of a tragic hero include being from a royal family and falling from power due to actions for which only the protagonist can take responsibility. The main character must also have a tragic flaw, defined as a “weakness of character” (Gioia). There have been many protagonists in other plays who depict a tragic hero, but none exemplify the traits of Aristotle's tragic hero as well as Oedipus for many reasons, including his royal history, his tragic flaw, his hamartia and his fall from power. Being part of a royal family was the primary qualification for being a tragic hero, according to Aristotle. Oedipus was originally born into a royal family. He was the son of Lauis and Jocasta, who were king and queen of Thebes. After his birth, a prophet told his father that Oedipus would eventually rise up and kill his father. Not wanting to risk being killed, Lauis tied Oedipus's feet with chains and threw him into the desert to be adopted or die. He thought that by getting rid of his son, the prophecy would not come true. Oedipus ended up being adopted by the ki...... middle of paper ......Ahenkora, and Adwoah S. Amankwah. “The tragic hero of the classical period.” Studies in English Language and Literature 2.3 (2012): 10-7. ProQuest. Internet. March 3, 2014. Baldick, Chris. “Tragic fault.” Get it @ LU. Proquest, 2008. Web. March 03, 2014.Barstow, Marjorie. "Oedipus Rex as Aristotle's Ideal Tragic Hero." Classical Association of the Atlantic States, nd Web. March 3, 2014. Gioia, Dana and XJ Kennedy. “Critical work: Sophocles. » Literature: introduction to fiction, poetry, theater and writing. 7th ed. Np: Pearson Longman., nd 949-86. Print.Gioia, Dana and XJ Kennedy. “Critical work: Sophocles. » Literature: introduction to fiction, poetry, theater and writing. 7th ed. Np: Pearson Longman., nd 945-48. Print.Sheehan, Sean. "Reader's Guides: "Oedipus the King" by Sophocles" Invocation. Continuum International Publishing, March 2012. Web. March 3. 2014.

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