In trying to find the definition of a hero I came upon Aristotle's. Aristotle's definition of a hero is a human being that shows: goodness in his heart, has character traits that stay the same throughout a play, shows a vital character flaw that eventually leads to the characters demise, and inspires pity amongst the audience. In Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, Oedipus fits into all of Aristotle's criteria for being a hero. He has compassion and he wants to save the people of Thebes. However, contrary to the side of him that shows kindness of him he also has a very stubborn side to him which eventually causes his decline.
Aristotle's tragic hero must exhibit a compassionate side and Oedipus definitely does. Oedipus reveals this characteristic when he promises to the people to again save them from the plague unleashed on them from the gods. Creon tells Oedipus that the gods are angry with the Thebians because of the murder of Laius and will not lift the plague until the murderer is caught and prosecuted (163-166). Oedipus wants to save his people once again and swears to find the murderer and states, "by avenging Laius, I defend myself" (167) He also shows a compassionate side at the end of the play when he walks in to Jocasta's room only to find her hanged. He had entered the room with intent to kill her but instead breaks down and weeps, which is an action only a sympathetic person would do (243).
Oedipus also has character traits that stay with him through out the play and contribute to his demise. From the start he is a very stately man who sets forth to do what is right, and does what he believes in. By standing up and promising to lift the plague from the people once again, he shows that he cares about his people and will forever defend them (171). Oedipus no longer wants to inflict this plague on his people and shows that he wants to do what is best for his people when he tells Creon: "Drive me out of the land at once, far from sight, where I can never hear a human voice" (245).