Errors In Oedipus The King

All throughout the history of storytelling, authors have turned basic characters into tragic figures in order to get a certain point across. They also use this idea to portray particular ideas, and to draw in a specific type of readers. Within plays, authors tell a story of its characters and how they either overcame certain obstacles, or let the obstacles totally define and conquer them. As each story unfolds, certain trials and errors occur that lead to urgent, important decision-making skills to be put to the test. Aristotle defined a tragic figure as “a virtuous man whose misfortune is brought about not by depravity, but by some error of frailty,” meaning that the hero is not some idea of perfection ,but is not a villain either. In the play, Oedipus the King by Sophocles,

He was thought about to be very caring, noble, thoughtful, confident, and was thought about highly by nearly all of the people of Thebes. He refers to his people as “my children” in line one, therefore making it understood that Oedipus was a caring ruler. He was also a very confident man of his works, and was not afraid to boast every once in awhile. For example, “I, Oedipus, a name that all men know” (8). The residents of Thebes thought well of their king, and this is evident in line 41, “Again now Oedipus, our greatest power,” as well as in line 39, “you raised up our life, so we believe.” The people believed that Oedipus greatly impacted their lives for the better, and decided they would forever praise him for his great doings. Oedipus was determined to find the murderer, and to end the plague that was on his people. Although the people viewed the King as high and mighty, they also knew he was not perfect and was like them, just higher in the social order. Not only was Oedipus represented as a tragic figure through his high ranking in the social class, but he also knew that he himself was the ultimate reason for his