Oedipus Tragic Hero Essay

Rightfully, Aristotle and many other critics have considered Oedipus the perfect tragic hero. A vigilant analysis of Oedipus and how he meets and surpasses the constraints of the tragic hero exposes that he justifiably deserves the title therein. Aristotle made the connection between katharsis and pity in which the audience engages with the unfolding of stories known as Greek Tragedies. This famous poet and philosopher was the authoritative critic who would expose the questions of philosophic nature in the exploration as to why we watch the terrible fortunes that develop upon tragic heroes. Let us examine the three salient attributes of the tragic hero as defined by Aristotle. First and foremost, the spectators grow an emotional attachment …show more content…
The Greek term "hamartia," is normally interpreted as a "tragic flaw." In truth it is essentially closer in logic to a "mistake" or an "error," or "failing," rather than an inherent failing. According to Aristotle's logic, all tragic heroes have a "hamartia," but this is not innate in all of their characters, as it would then be true that the audience would be not sufficiently able to pity them and would lose respect for them as well; likewise, if the hero's inadequate and completely unintentional and unconscious, the audience would not be anxious for the hero as well. As an alternative, the character's blemish must be the product from something that is also a dominant part of their virtue, which inevitably goes to some extent skewed, most of the time due to a lack of awareness or understanding. By describing the conception in this manner, Aristotle designates that a rightly tragic hero must have a failing that is neither characteristic nor random, but is in some way more intensely rooted in them, demonstrative in a kind of mortal failing or social flaw. Oedipus demonstrates this to a tee, as his basic flaw is his lack of familiarity about his individual true identity. Likewise, there is no amount of forethought or preventive action which could cure Oedipus' hamartia. Dissimilar to other tragic heroes, Oedipus bears no accountability for this flaw. The spectators panic for Oedipus since nothing he can do …show more content…
To begin with, when he took his own sight, in lieu of taking his own life, Oedipus realizes a type of proxy demise that exaggerates his anguish. He comments about the blackness. This is not specific to his incapacity of sight, but moreover about the spiritual and intellectual void that he finds himself in after blinding himself. By all accounts, Oedipus is dead, as he gets none of the accoutrements of the living and at the same time, he is not truly dead in a definitive way. In this way his misery is unending. Oedipus is experiencing the worst of life and death in both worlds, therefore he prompts even more pity from the spectators. Then, Oedipus himself and the Chorus both realize that he will continue to be after the tragedy's close. Unlike others, Oedipus' suffering does not end with the play. This true even though the conclusion presents a sense of cessation to the play. This strange mixture of different elements consisting of sustained misery and conclusion make the audience feel as if Oedipus' grief is his appropriate and normal status. With all of this and without a doubt, Oedipus' distinctive demise garners more pity from the