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 is not deserved, his punishment exceeds his crime and he also must be of noble stature and have greatness. The hero must also go through peripeteia and anagorisis. Oedipus is in love with his idealized self, and does not realize what problems he has caused to himself. All of the above characteristics make Oedipus a tragic hero according to Aristotle's ideas about tragedy.

             Using Oedipus as an ideal model, Aristotle says that a tragic hero must be an important or influential man who makes an error in judgment or hamartia, and who must then suffer the consequences of his actions. Those actions are seen when Oedipus forces Tiresias to reveal his destiny and his father's name. When Tiresias tries to warn him by saying "This present day will give you birth and death", Oedipus still does not care and proceeds with his questioning. The tragic hero must learn a lesson from his errors in judgment and become an example to the audience of what happens when great men fall from their lofty social or political positions. Oedipus is the son of Laius, who was king of Thebes and this makes him of noble birth and even in the beginning of the story, Oedipus is introduced as the son of Polybus, who is the king of Corinth which still made him part of the nobility.

             The birth of Oedipus presets his destiny to result in tragedy even though he is of noble birth. In tragedies, protagonists are usually of the nobility to make their falls seem greater. Oedipus just happens to be born a prince, and he has saved a kingdom that is rightfully his from the Sphinx.