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Who Is Oedipus A Hero

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Many older Greek plays seem to tell of a hero with great accomplishments, but disastrous failures. In and throughout the play, Oedipus the King, by the Greek play written by Sophocles, then translated for modern times, is and is probably, one of the greatest example of a heroic tragedy. The author, Sophocles, first writes and portrays the main character, Oedipus, as man accredited for his great understandings, great pride, and accomplishments, which is, suggesting that he is a hero. The character Oedipus eventually loses his respect and dignity for something so catastrophic and in consequence destroys Oedipus, who was once called a hero. In the end, though, the greatest tragedy can be said that Oedipus disgraces himself and his family for the killing of his father, marrying and or forcefully raping his mother, and being responsible for the downfall of his reign. One of the first examples of when you see Oedipus’s pride and ego get to him is when he actually has his father killed. Oedipus had sent his men to kill certain people objecting his rule, but unknowingly, has his father killed. Oedipus not really caring about the predetermined fate he is aware of, is …show more content…
Oedipus intentionally blinds himself with his wife’s hair pin and gouges his eyes out. Oedipus says, “Oh God. Again – The pain of the spikes where I had sight, - The flooding pain – Of memory, never to be gouged out” (1239. 93-96). Oedipus realized his tragic failures and the sad destiny he fulfilled, and sought some repentance. Oedipus living with no self-dignity left, says, “Oh never to have come here – With my father’s blood upon me! Never – To have been the man they call his mother’s husband! – Oh accurst! Oh child of evil, - To have entered that wretched bed – the selfsame one! (1240. 132-137). Soon after Oedipus is shamed and exiled. The prophecy was fulfilled, and Oedipus the King failed tragically as a

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