Orestes and Oedipus

A detailed Summary of Orestes and Oedipus

What are the similarities and differences between Orestes and Oedipus as tragic heroes? In the following paragraphs I am going to compare Orestes and Oedipus as tragic heroes. There are a number of characteristics that identify a tragic hero. Although a tragic hero causes his own downfall, his fate is usually not deserved, and his punishment is much worse than his crime. A tragic hero is usually someone of importance or power who has a tragic flaw that affects his judgment, and must then suffer the consequences.

Cassandra, who has been cursed by Apollo to be a seer who will never be believed, envisions the death of Agamemnon and herself. It is in this vision that she sees an avenger who will bring justice to the murdered victims, " We will die, but not without some honor from the gods. There will come another to avenge us, born to kill his mother, born his father's champion." This vision proves to be very important when speaking about the innocence of Orestes and his heroism as well. This vision also proves my belief of Orestes not being a true tragic hero. Before the incident takes place, we know that the gods have destined Orestes to avenge his father's death.

Another way to prove Orestes innocence is through the god

As we move on in "The Libation Bearers", Electra, like the leader and his chorus, also looks to Orestes as a savior or hero. As she sits at the grave of her father Agamemnon, Electra prays to Hermes, god of the dead. She prays for "the one, who murders in return!"

Oedipus wishes himself to be seen as deeply caring for his country, while at the same time looking out for himself, but his pride in his abilities and his determination not to look weak in front of his people leads him to blindly pursue the identity of the murderer, even when he is warned off by Tiresias and his wife. Oedipus wanted the death of Laius to be avenged and he had to be the one to find the murderer and punish him. "I'll fight for him, I'll leave no means untried, to catch the one who did it with his hand." Oedipus harmartia is his determination, stubbornness and his arrogance.

Oedipus's encounter with the blind prophet Tiresias is another example of Oedipus's hubris and a foreshadowing of his downfall. Oedipus sends for Tiresias and Tiresias reveal that Oedipus was the murderer. Oedipus is outraged by the accusation and throws insults at the prophet because of his blindness. In reality, it was Oedipus who could not see because his pride and confidence did not want to hear what Tiresias had to say. Oedipus thinks this is a plot by Creon to seize the throne. When Creon confronts Oedipus about the accusation, he denies it. Again, Oedipus's hubris shows. He will not be persuaded; no matter how much sense Creon makes. He is insistent that Creon is plotting against him, even after Jocasta intervenes and Creon makes an oath to the gods that he did not do what Oedipus accuses.

In "The Eumenides", Apollo speaks on behalf of Zeus and admits that he was an accomplice in the murder of Clytaemnestra. Apollo literally says, " I commanded him to avenge his father." Orestes' case was also helped when Apollo came forward, and took part of the blame as well. "I come as a witness. This man, according to custom, this suppliant sought out my house and hearth. I am the one who purged his bloody hands." In this case, Apollo has a huge authority over all of the other gods and for one reason only. He is a ser

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Approximate Word count = 1480
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

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