In Sophocles" "Oedipus Rex," a tragic play about a king who killed his father and married his mother, Oedipus plays a tragic hero who has a destiny determined by the Greek God's. There are three aspects that determine his tragic heroism. First, He is royalty. Second, he has some weaknesses, but more strengths. Third he is oblivious to the truth of his own destiny, which he discovers in the end.
Oedipus was royalty his whole life. He was born into royalty through Jocasta and Lais. For example, at birth he was considered royalty, until his mother abandoned him. Second, He was adopted by Polybus and Merop, thus becoming king of Thebes. Third, he married back into royalty after he married Jocasta. For example, he did not know Jocasta was his mother and he married back into his original family. .
Oedipus had many strengths. There are three major strengths that make him such a great leader. First, he has a strong passion for truth. For example, he wanted to find his parents no matter what he had to do to find out whose son he really was. Second, he is loyal to his people. For example, when Apollo said that the murderer of Lais had to die in order for the plaque to end, Oedipus killed himself because he knew he had killed Lais, his own father. Third, Oedipus was intelligent. For example, he was considered a brilliant ruler because he solved the riddle of Sphinx and bought ease to the city of Thebes.
Oedipus" also had weaknesses. There are three weaknesses that Oedipus allows us to recognize throughout the play. First, he is stubborn. For example, he fights with everyone that questioned him, or had a different opinion than him. Second, he is ignorant. For example, he refused to listen to Creon and Tiresias when they tried to tell him the truth. He did not realize they were being loyal, he thought they were trying to hurt him. Third, Oedipus was arrogant. For example, he even questioned the Greek God's.
