Oedipus the King is a story of trials and tribulations for a man who believed he had it all. Being known as the King of Thebes that had saved the town from a killer sphinx did more than just boost his ego, it made him King. With the sudden fame and glory Oedipus became a person of high status that was admired and envied by many of the townspeople. Oedipus the King can be seen as a tragic hero which is defined as a person of high status who experiences a downfall due to their tragic flaw.
Oedipus was considered a high society figure in two ways, being the heir to the city of Cornith and being the King of Thebes. Thinking he was born to the King and Queen of Cornith, Oedipus was the future heir of the throne. This thought alone made Oedipus feel superior and more noble than the regular townsman. The second reason that Oedipus was considered of high status is because he solved the riddle of the Sphinx, saved Thebes from disaster, and claimed the throne of former King Lauis. Oedipus was the only person to come remotely close to solving the riddle of the Sphinx, therefore many looked at him as a superior being. Oedipus knew that the townspeople held him with such high regard and so he took advantage of that. When one feels as if they are superior to everyone it can cause a lot of damage.
The herendous events that took place in Oedipus' life are more dramatic than one ever wishes to experience. The downfall begins with the plague of Thebes. The entire extistense of life in Thebes is threatened until the murderer of Lauis is reveled. Oedipus vows to seek out the killer and get sweet revenge. Tiresas the blind prophet bust Oedipus' bubble with the news that he is not what he seems to be. Tiresas can see things clearly even though he is blind. The downfall of Oedipus seems to improve with the news of his fathers death, this means that Oedipus did not kill his father. The tables turns when Oedipus and Jocasta come to the realization that they are mother and son.