Oedipus Rex - Sophocles

Oedipus Rex as a tragic hero on Sophocles’ concept.

Oedipus, the protagonist of Oedipus Rex, perfectly fits the idea of a tragic hero as described by Aristotle and exemplified by Sophocles. According to Greek tragedy, a tragic hero must be a man of high rank, noble character, and possess a tragic flaw (hamartia) that leads to his downfall. Oedipus, being the King of Thebes, is noble, intelligent, and deeply concerned for his people. His downfall comes not from evil intentions but from his pride (hubris) and determination to discover the truth, even when warned not to pursue it.

At the beginning, Oedipus appears as a wise and strong ruler who had once saved Thebes by solving the riddle of the Sphinx. However, his arrogance makes him believe he can solve any problem, including the mystery of Laius’s murder. His relentless search for truth leads him to discover that he himself is the murderer and that he has fulfilled the prophecy—killing his father and marrying his mother. This shocking revelation causes his spiritual and emotional collapse, leading to his self-blinding and exile.

Despite his fall, Oedipus earns the audience’s sympathy because his sufferings result from human weakness, not wickedness. His courage in facing the truth and accepting punishment makes him truly heroic. Thus, Oedipus embodies the classical concept of a tragic hero—a great man destroyed by fate and his own flaws.

Dramatic irony used by Sophocles in Oedipus Rex.

Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows more about a situation than the characters do, creating tension and emotional impact. Sophocles masterfully uses dramatic irony throughout Oedipus Rex to heighten the tragedy.

From the beginning, the audience already knows that Oedipus is the murderer of Laius and that Laius and Jocasta are his parents. However, Oedipus himself is unaware of this truth. When he declares that he will punish Laius’s killer, the audience realizes that he is unknowingly cursing himself: “I curse myself if I have done the deed.” Similarly, when Oedipus mocks the blind prophet Teiresias, saying, “You have no sight,” the irony is that Oedipus himself is spiritually blind, unable to see the truth about his identity.

Another powerful example is Jocasta’s attempt to comfort Oedipus by denying prophecy, not realizing she is revealing her own guilt. The repeated use of dramatic irony keeps the audience engaged, as they watch Oedipus’s confidence turn into despair. It also deepens the sense of tragedy, showing that fate and ignorance control human life. Through dramatic irony, Sophocles emphasizes the limitations of human knowledge and the inevitability of destiny.

The real identity of the killer of Laius.

Oedipus discovers the truth about the murder of Laius through a gradual and painful process of investigation, guided by his own determination to save Thebes from the plague. At first, he vows to find Laius’s killer, not knowing that he himself is the murderer. He consults the oracle at Delphi, who repeats the old prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Still unaware of his identity, Oedipus continues his inquiry.

The turning point comes when Teiresias, the blind prophet, tells Oedipus that he himself is the criminal he seeks. Oedipus angrily rejects the accusation, accusing Teiresias and Creon of plotting against him. Later, as Jocasta recounts details of Laius’s murder and mentions where it happened, Oedipus begins to suspect the truth, remembering an old man he killed at a crossroads long ago.

Finally, a Corinthian messenger arrives to announce the death of Polybus, Oedipus’s supposed father, and reveals that Oedipus was not his real son but a child found on Mount Cithaeron. When the shepherd—who had saved the baby Oedipus—confirms that the child was Laius and Jocasta’s son, the horrifying truth is revealed. Oedipus realizes that he has indeed killed his father and married his mother, fulfilling the prophecy he tried so hard to avoid. This recognition marks the moment of anagnorisis (self-realization), leading to his tragic downfall.