Video: Crash Course in Oedipus Rex https:

“A man cannot become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall.” – Aristotle

Aristotle defines a TRAGIC HERO as a noble or virtuous character who has a major character flaw and for whom the audience usually feels pity/compassion/sympathy. The four qualities of a tragic hero include:
1. The character is typically of noble birth, highly renowned or prosperous.
2. The character has a fatal or TRAGIC FLAW that leads to his downfall (called hamartia).
3. The character’s downfall is his own fault and results from free will/choice, but his misfortune is not wholly deserved.
4. The character’s downfall leads to an increased self-awareness or self-knowledge.

Watch the video given above. Write a fully-fleshed out extended response making specific textual references to “The Story of Oedipus” to outline how Oedipus is a tragic hero. Make sure to address ALL 4 qualities of the tragic hero, including how Oedipus fits each criterion; for criteria 2, make sure to include what the tragic flaw is.