Oedipus in "Oedipus The King" by Sophocles was a memorable example of a tragic hero. Tragic hero is a term used for an awesome person who behaves admirably as a man, but who is tripped up by forces beyond his control and understanding. The force that trips Oedipus is his fate. His heroic qualities, his loyalty to his town Thebes, and his past eventually ruin him. What Oedipus goes through and how he reacts, makes Sophocles believe that he is one of the best examples of a tragic hero.

Oedipus' excessive pride or hubris and self-righteousness make him a tragic hero. Hence, to be a tragic hero you have to be capable of great suffering. Because his life was uncontrollably twisted, it ultimately ended in his own fate, a tragedy. In "Oedipus The King" Oedipus kills his own father and marries his mother unintentionally...