Oedipus Rex In the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Oedipus is a classic tragic hero in which makes the play a tragedy. According to Aristotle's definition, Oedipus is a tragic hero because he is a king whose life falls apart when he finds out his life story. There are a number of characteristics described by Aristotle that identify a tragic hero. For example, a tragic hero must cause his own downfall enforcing hamartia, his fate …showed first 75 words of 858 total…

…showed last 75 words of 858 total…If he hadn't been so judgmental, he would never have killed King Laius and called Tiresias a liar. In the beginning, Tiresias is simply trying to ease him slowly into the truth; but Oedipus is too proud to see any truths, and he refuses to believe that he could have been responsible for such a horrible crime. He learns a lesson about life and how there is more to it than just one person's fate.