Oedipus Rex is a classic example of an Aristotelian tragic hero. Because he was a tragic hero his down fall was not due to the work of Gods or Fate but his own character flaws and personality. According to Aristotle, to be a tragic hero there are requirements a character must possess to be considered a tragic hero. One requirement is that he has to be a man of noble stature or kingship. He must also possess extraordinary powers. The tragic hero is good but must commit an act of injustice or a crime which brings them from happiness to misery. The tragedy is caused by a flaw in his character or personality.
             Oedipus is Sophocles's tragic hero in Oedipus Rex. Oedipus was a man of noble stature. At first he was adopted by Polybus, the King of Corinth, and his wife, Merope. They pretended he was their son and raised him as the Prince of Corinth. Then Oedipus met with the Sphinx. After answering the riddle he killed her and became the King of Thebes. With this he was the prince of one place and king of another. He was set for a great fall to the bottom. This is the first requirement for being a tragic hero.
             Oedipus possessed extraordinary powers of wit which allowed him to answer the Sphinx's riddle. In so doing, he lifted the plague on Thebes. He was the only one to answer the riddle. Many people before him had failed and met their demise. His exceptional intellectual powers won him the kingship of Thebes. Oedipus, just like all tragic heroes, looked set for life. But his blindness eventually makes him loose it all.
             Oedipus was also a good-natured man. He truly cared about his people as evidenced by his efforts to lift the plague of the Sphinx. Oedipus also shows that he wanted to do good by vowing to find the killers of his father(the original King of Thebes). He hates to see his people in such ruin.
             Despite these good qualities, Oedipus had some terrible character flaws. He had a short temper and a t...