The character depicted as the tragic hero in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex is Oedipus. He was foretold that he would marry his mother and kill his father. This leads Oedipus to become the king of Thebes, which makes him a character high in power. With this new power Oedipus receives, he creates various flaws which lead him into a disastrous situation. The most distinguishable one leading to his downfall is hubris. The other characteristics, generally regarded as good qualities, are stubbornness and determination. In Oedipus Rex, Sophocles uses Oedipus' dominant character traits of arrogance, stubbornness, and determination to portray him as the tragic hero.

Oedipus' major attribute that leads to his downfall is his arrogance or hubris nature. Within the play, Oedipus is superior to other men because of his social standing and his ability to solve the Sphinx's riddle. Oedipus knows this and even says "I Oedipus, your...