Espinoza 1

Crystal Espinoza
Mrs. Brownell
English 10
15 January 2013
Oedipus Rex
A tragic hero is someone of high standard who has made mistakes in their life which has
then led them to turn their life around in a bad way. Oedipus Rex was written in the early years
of the Peloponnesian war was a drama written by Sophocles. Oedipus was a tragic hero but there
are still tragic heroes today such as Chris Brown.
Oedipus was a hero to the people in Thebes because people love him. They love Oedipus
because he saved them from the sphinx, people screaming You saved us from the sphinx, that
filthy singer. (Sophocles 38-39). The people of Thebes filled with joy due to Oedipus saving
them because they would have gotten eaten by the sphinx itself but was prevented by Oedipus
answering the sphinxs question correctly. Oedipus then became king by marrying the Queen of
Thebes name Jocasta who had also lost her husband whom was the ex-king of Thebes. After the
ex-kings death Oedipus has been trying to find his killer to cure the Pollution in the city of
Thebes. Trying to investigate Oedipus asked Creon was Laius murdered in his house, or in the
fields, or in the foreign country? (116-117). Finding Laius murderer would cure Thebes form
its pollution and will make the people feel safe and happy of where they live. After not knowing
anything about the murderer he decides to ask Teiresias for help because he can predict the
future. Teiresias mentioned to Oedipus ... and from this plague my lord, we find that you alone
can guard or save us. (288). Oedipus believes Teiresias would be a great help by knowing
certain details about the murder which will then help capture the killer. Oedipus was loved by

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many and was considered a hero until they discovered his tragic flaw.
After the people from Thebes loved loved Oedipus , they discovered his tragic flaw of
hubris. Oedipus tragic flaw means he is full of himself. with the idea of being full of himself he
allowed himself to block the real life situations occurring in his life, which later on left him to
find out his fate. When talking to Teiresias about Lais killer, Teiresias mentions something life
changing to Oedipus A blind man who has his eyes now, a penniless man who is rich now, will
go taiping the strange earth with his staff. To the children with whom he lives now will be
brother and father- the very same; to her who bore him son and husband- the very same who
came to his fathers bed, wet his fathers blood. (338-445). After avoiding the truth for so many
years Oedipus could not take it anymore and decided to blind himself to avoid anymore hurt and
tells the people of Thebes Drive me out of this country as quickly as may be to a place where
no human voice can ever greet me. (1382). Oedipus was loved by many until they discovered
his tragic flaw of hubri which later on led him to his downfall, a tragic hero today would be
somebody like Chris Brown.
Although there has been many ancient tragic heroes there are still modern tragic heroes
today i our society. Chris Brown who was once the most popular singer is a perfect example as a
modern tragic hero. He was a popular singer and top selling recording artist in the year of 2006.
This was a good thing for his career because he as a role model until he showed his true colors.
Chris Browns tragic flaw was that he was self conscious and he showed he entire world during
his relationship with Rihanna. Him being self conscious led to his downfall which made it seem
crazy due to him being a role model. Hi downfall led his fans in a different direction. Even
though Chris Brown was a popular singer and top selling recording artist his tragic flaw was
being self conscious which makes him a great example of being a modern day tragic hero.

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Oedipus was once looked upon as a hero but then people discovered his tragic flaw which
made him an ancient tragic hero. Chris Brown however is an example of a modern day tragic
hero because he also had a tragic flaw. People from Thebes thought Oedipus was a hero until
they discovered his tragic flaw which later on led to his downfall. Chris Brown is a tragic hero
due to also having a tragic flaw which was jealousy and being self conscious. Some examples of
tragic heroes both modern and ancient would be Oedipus and Chris Brown. It is not wrong to
have tragic flaws because in world we live in nobody is perfect and everybody is bound to make
mistakes and are also allowed to be different and themselves.

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Works Cited
Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Elements of Literature. Ed. Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Trans. Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. Texas: Hardcourt Education, 2006.
203-261.