Such a horrible life you have, Oedipus!

I would characterize Oedipus as a tragic figure due to his horrible fate. The definition of a tragic hero, according to Aristotle, is a list of characteristics that the hero must obtain.

First off, a tragic hero must be of noble stature and greatness. In the beginning of the dramatic play, Oedipus is king of Thebes. He is explained as being an intellectual being with the power to rule over Thebes.

Second, he must have a flaw. Oedipus is too curious. His stubbornness and eagerness to know everything and for everything to go his way hinders him from seeing his surroundings as well as his way of not taking advice from others. His anger is like a bomb waiting to blow up due to his impatience to wait.

Thirdly, the tragic hero brings their own downfall due to their imperfection. Oedipus’ curiosity to know his future led to his fate being certain to become a reality. He searched for an oracle with the curiosity to know what will happen to him, which gave him his fate to be certain. He killed his father, married his mother and ended up being the one at fault for causing Thebe’s misery. By killing his own father, he brought all the other downfalls with him.

Fourthly, the punishment exceeds the crime. He takes his sight and has to live in exile in order to restore the health of Thebes. Yes, he caused the downfall and future embarrassment of his family and the death of his mother, but he compensated by taking his sight and accepted the lonely life until his death, which he explains as a deserved death by going to Hades and facing those he has lost, blinded.

Fifthly, there is an awareness of the tragic hero. He is the son of Laius and the son of his own wife. He had children which came from the same womb he came from. His whole life unravels as not being the children of the people he was adopted from. His whole life is unraveled in front of his eyes.

Finally, every play ends with a catharsis (a relief from the grief we feel for the hero). The catharsis in this play is when he takes his sight, reliving Thebe’s suffering by pouring it upon Oedipus. He doesn’t take his life due to the fact that he wouldn’t suffer; that would just be an escape. That is why he suffers eternally for his actions, thus repaying Thebes.