Oedipus‚ a Tragic Hero? Elizabeth Howell English 102- B33 Professor Katie Robinson Liberty University October 12‚ 2012 Oedipus‚ a Tragic Hero? Thesis: Using Aristotle’s five different descriptions of a tragic hero‚ we will show that Oedipus in Oedipus the King is in fact a tragic hero and how his decisions led to his downfall. Outline: I. Introduction and Thesis Statement II. Is the character of noble birth? A. King of Thebes B. Real father was king III. Though the tragic hero
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Oedipus the King‚ by Sophocles‚ contains a very prominent tragic hero: Oedipus. A tragic hero‚ by Aristotle’s definition of one‚ must possess six traits. One of them is that the tragic hero must be of noble stature. Another trait of a tragic hero is a tragic flaw. A third trait defined by Aristotle is that a tragic hero must have a period of recognition of his crimes. Oedipus strongly displays each of the three aforementioned‚ necessary traits; and he is‚ then‚ an obvious tragic hero. Oedipus’ noble
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is a tragic hero? A tragic hero is ” a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall‚ suffering‚ or defeat.” According to Sophocles‚ the ideal tragic hero is a king or a man of noble stature. The tragic hero is a generous person and his downfall results from his committing of an act of injustice through ignorance. His fate may contribute to his downfall‚ or even his own choices or actions. But sometimes the hero’s misfortune is not deserved. The tragic fall
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component of dramas is the idea of “tragic hero”. A tragic hero held the spotlight of the drama to amplify the message of the script. One story that sparked much discussion and interest was Oedipus the King by Sophocles. The story of Oedipus is considered one of the best examples of a “tragic hero”. Greek drama can be better understood in light of understanding how Oedipus in Sophocles’ Oedipus the King is a strong example of a tragic hero. Aristotle defined a tragic hero to be a man‚ noble in stature
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Oedipus; The Tragic Hero In the Fourth Century BC‚ a famous philosopher named Aristotle wrote about the qualities that a tragic hero must possess. Ever since that time‚ there have been many examples of tragic heroes in literature. None of those characters‚ however‚ display the tragic hero traits quite as well as Oedipus‚ the main character from the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. Oedipus is‚ without a doubt‚ the absolute quintessence of a tragic hero. His example shines as clear as a sunny summer
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URI 25 September 2013 Oedipus Tragic Hero Webster’s dictionary defines a hero as a person‚ who is admired or idealized for courage‚ outstanding achievements‚ or noble qualities. Although this definition accurately describes Oedipus’ character‚ tragic hero is more of an apt description. A tragic hero is defined usually by the following: One‚ A man of noble stature. Two‚ A selfless man who is not afraid to come under scrutiny. Three‚ The hero honorably receives the punishment given
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people were known as tragic heroes. The stories of these tragic heroes are known as tragedies‚ some of the earliest known tragedies are Medea and Oedipus the King. As stated in The Vocabulary of Ancient Greek Tragedy in Modern English by Francis Blessington the Greeks believed‚ “a hero must explicitly accept his fate. But in Greek tragedy‚ the hero or heroine or the play itself questions fate” (Blessington). The greatest example of this is Oedipus The King by Sophocles. Oedipus is considered to be
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Aristotle uses six different points to define a tragic hero. The tragic hero must be of noble stature and have greatness. Though the tragic hero is pre-eminently great‚ he/she is not perfect. The hero’s downfall is partially his/her own fault‚ the result of free choice‚ not of accidental means. The hero’s misfortune is not wholly deserved and the punishment exceeds the crime. The fall is not pure loss. And though it arouses solemn emotion‚ tragedy does not leave the audience in a state
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of a tragic hero. In this composition of philosophy and literary theories‚ Aristotle’s ideas revolve around three crucial effects to audience members. First‚ the audience must develop an emotional attachment to the tragic hero. Next‚ the audience must fear what may befall the hero. Finally‚ once misfortune strikes‚ the audience pities the suffering hero. Clearly‚ for Aristotle’s theory to succeed‚ the tragic hero must be a complex and well-constructed character‚ as is seen in Sophocles’ Oedipus the
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The difference between being a tragic character and a tragic hero depends on the role of the main character in the play. In Death of a Salesman and Oedipus‚ the main characters undergo a tragedy at the end of the story when they overcome a self realization. The arrogance that is seen through the storyline of these plays‚ allows the two characters to relate to one another. Willy‚ the main character in the play Death of a Salesman written by Arthur Miller is an average man in the city that lies to
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