Tragic Heroes in Oedipus Rex and Cinderella

If the hero was imperfect or evil, then the audience would feel that he had gotten what he deserved. Oedipus has his flaws and was imperfect enough for the viewers to connect. He was doomed from the start, but he bears no responsibility for his imperfections until the end when he stabs his own eyes. This is felt to be a punishment that exceeded the crime, it also is a key scene in the play because the audience feels relief. They are glad they weren't the ones to experience this tragedy. The drama still evokes pity and terror from the audience even though in the end the audience disconnects from the character because of his rash actions. The play lets the audience be part of the life the hero lives but what is great about it is that the audience doesn't have to suffer like the hero. They will feel pity but in the end be satisfied with their own lives because they could never endure the pain and suffering like Oedipus did. This is what makes him the tragic hero - he is able to endure and accept his fate because he knows his actions are what lead him to his doom.
             The poem of Cinderella by Anne Saxton also relies on the audience's knowledge of the myth. This extension to the myth shows a different side to the story of Cinderella we haven't thought about. Many of those who know or read the story of Cinderella can identify with her just like they identified with Oedipus, which is what makes the writing powerful. Those who know of Cinderella wish to be her, to be swept of their feet and married to a prince and live happily ever after. However, that's not the life Cinderella really lives, well, not in Anne Saxton's poem at least. In the poem, Cinderella is striped from any human action "like two dolls in a museum case never bothered by diapers or dust, never arguing over the timing of an egg, never telling the same story twice, never getting a middle aged spread, their darling smiles pasted on for eternity" (Gardner,600).