The Fate of Oedipus“Oedipus the King” demonstrates all the characteristics and qualities, so it is better to say that he is the perfect example of a tragic hero. The sequence of events in the play is entirely reminiscent of a tragedy and Oedipus is directly in the center of it, facing every obstacle and showing all the qualities of a hero as he searches for the truth behind the murder of King Laius. The story and the main protagonist, Oedipus, has all the dramatizations and within himself a tragic flaw that ultimately led to his downfall. Oedipus' actions brought about his death, but it was fate that destroyed him. Oedipus' hamartia was well documented when he showed how determined he was to catch the murderer of King Laius even when he suspected it was himself. (Grene, pg. 13) Only a hero would risk pursuing himself in search of the truth. Ultimately he was trying to clear his conscience, or prove to himself that he wasn't actually the killer, even though all the evidence said he was. One might even say that this reasoning is its tragic flaw. His determination to find the killer and free his conscience is what led to his death. After deciphering the riddle of the Sphinx he became arrogant, as if he were untouchable, so it is understandable that he took such risks unnecessarily. The catharsis in the play occurred when Oedipus was finally proven to be the murderer of King Laius. He had finally come to terms with this, it was suspected throughout the play but there were so many unknown variables that the reader needed it spelled out in black and white. Oedipus killed King Laius and unknowingly fulfilled the prophecy he was born into. Even when the prophecy was told to him, there wasn't much he could do to change it, if anything. The Gods of g...... middle of paper ...... ng himself. Maybe death was too easy to run away from your problems. He faced exile and gave himself blindness because he is a tragic hero. A weak person would kill himself. He felt it was too easy and wanted to live with the deaths of Jocasta and Laius on his shoulders. Oedipus, the tragic hero, did everything he could to save his city and was eventually exiled to a world where religion prevails over everything. He took his share of losses, his wife/mother, his father and his city. In his emotional state he even blinded himself. He is a wounded man who supported his city and begged to be exiled so as not to anger the Gods as their prophecy needed to be fulfilled and this is the punishment he decided should be given to the murderer of a king. Oedipus met his fate because his actions were predetermined and the question was not how, but when the prophecy would come true.