The Athenian tragedy Oedipus Tyrannus by Sophocles is very clear about the fate that awaits the king from the day he enters the world. The choices he made to escape the prophecy about his life did not help him avoid his tragic end. However, in my opinion, Oedipus was as much a hero as he was a tragedy. A hero is a person valued for great achievements and talents, who demonstrates great courage in the face of adversity or danger. The essay below will explain the heroism of the king's choices, behavior, and ultimate end. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay Throughout his life, Oedipus is seen as a virtuous man and tries to do the right thing for his family and his people. He is constantly pursued by the evil that Laius, his father, had imagined and, in doing so, he brings upon himself the very fate he tries so hard to avoid. In the opening act of the play, King Oedipus addresses his citizens with concern over the scourge. He is considered a hero by his people since he already brought down the curse of the Sphinx. The only reason his commoners try to get relief from him is because he is a respected and morally upright man who loves his people. Sophocles depicts the king as a humble man who converses regularly with his people. The fact that he had already responded to the plague complaint by sending Creon to the oracle, even before the petitioners arrived, shows that he was genuinely concerned. The second reason that elevates Oedipus to hero status is the fact that he was willing to deal with the assassin who was polluting the city of Thebes. He persisted in his quest to discover the truth of the matter despite pleas from Jocasta, his wife and mother, to stop. After realizing and confirming that he is the one who murdered Laius, his father and his daughters' half-brother, he submits to a fate far worse than death, a life as a poor blind beggar. In the play “Oedipus Tyrannus,” the king begs his people to banish him. The despair of being banished from Thebes arouses sympathy towards Oedipus. The fact remains that he was predestined to kill his father and sleep with his own mother (Plumptre). He is impartial and just enough to proceed and condemn himself to a good punishment for his mistakes even if he is truly a victim of circumstances. Seeing himself as the cause of the people's plague, he begs to be exiled forever so that his people can once again be free from the contamination. This phrase shows the fairness and extent of man's moral decency. He is distraught to realize that he, society's beloved king, committed all the atrocities that caused the plague. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay In conclusion, Oedipus is portrayed as a strong, caring, and powerful leader who is simply a victim of fate. The truth is that he is human and he must be at fault, whether it be with emotions like anger and love or with his error of judgment. Even though Oedipus is a great man of the people, he also has his faults. For example, his anger which pushes him to kill Laius, the man who refused to give way to him at the crossroads, without the knowledge of him and his father. He is also very proud, as evidenced by the way he treated Tiresias, the blind seer. He is also very suspicious and distrustful of everyone, even those close to him like Creon. However, I believe that the choices he made after his mistakes are the defining moments of his character. Oedipus is in fact a tragic hero above all because his story evokes..