Hamartia: Oedipus

A detailed Summary of Hamartia: Oedipus

According to Aristotle, the tragic hero is impeded by a distinguishable characteristic or character trait which leads to his ultimate demise. This trait is known as hamartia, or the "tragic flaw." This characteristic is said to not only lead to the hero's demise but may also enable the reader to sympathize with the character. So it follows that in Oedipus the King, a Greek tragedy, the tragic hero Oedipus should have some sort of flaw. However, after close examination of the text, no distinguishable "flaw" is revealed. Although Oedipus appears to have many "flaws" on the surface, namely his poor temperament, carelessness, curiosity and pride, close examination of the text reveals that he has many seemingly flawed characteristics that are not only justifiable but in some cases to be expected.

One might expect that a quick and even murderous temper would be considered a serious impediment to Oedipus. However, he is quite justified in his rage against Creon and Tiresias, and he has good reasons to suspect them of plotting against him. From the view point of Oedipus, he has just discovered that the antecedent king Laius was savagely murdered along with the members of his entourage. Furthermore the murder has yet to be solved many

Oedipus, although living in self imposed exile, still considers himself to be of royal blood. Therefore any offense, especially by some old man and his servants, is cause for a serious reprimand. In the case of Oedipus, this means murder. Although one could argue that Laius' actions are justified because he is a king, therefore superior, there is no evidence in the text to suggest that either man knows the status of the other. The entire episode is a really grisly incident of road rage.

"making [his] way toward this triple crossroad [he] began to see a herald, then a brace of colts drawing a wagon, and mounted on the bench . . . a man, just as [Jocasta] described [Laius], coming face-to-face, and the one in the lead and the old man himself [was] about to thrust [him] off the road-brute force - and the one shouldering [him] aside, the driver, [he] struck [him] in anger - and the old man, watching [Oedipus] coming up along his wheels - he brings down his prod, two prongs straight at [his] head"(884-893).

Oedipus's flaw is one of a physical nature, and not one of character. Laius went to an Oracle, received news he did not like and attempted to change his destiny. Oedipus went to an Oracle, and he too tried to flee his destiny. By running from his fate, Oedipus ends up sealing both his and his parent's destiny. The primary moral that the reader should come away with is to let nature take its course. The odds are, as Oedipus and Laius find out the ha

Some common words found in the essay are:
Laius Oedipus, Cornith Oedipus, Cornith Laius, King Greek, Creon Tiresias, According Aristotle, Oedipus Oracle, Mulder Scully, Oedipus Laius, Laius Oracle, close examination, tragic hero, examination text, evidence text, close examination text, tragic flaw,

Approximate Word count = 984
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English