OOH.... What a World!!!

        I support the idea that Oedipus is a tragic figure because he is a fallen hero. Oedipus was a very smart and courageous man that became a king of Thebes, a position that seemed to be well deserved. The worst part of the story is that all his suffering was caused because of the decisions that his parents made and he had no control over it. I believe that is what makes the story very tragic. Oedipus seemed to be a very good man and ruler, it was evident that he cared about the people in his kingdom and tried to do the best he could for them. He even ran away from his home trying to prevent the prophecy(that he would kill his father and marry his mother) from coming true, thinking that it would happen with his adoptive parents whom which he didn't know they were his adoptive parents. Oedipus was a man who made his decisions with the best intentions but sadly they lead him to his doom. One downfall that Oedipus had that would also seem like a good quality would be his stubbornness and his need to know everything. It was because of these to qualities that Oedipus led himself to his very dreadful fate.
             When he had finally solved the mystery of King Laius(Oedipus's biological father) death and that the prophecy had actually come true keeping to his word he had himself exiled from the land just like he had promised to his people. He also felt it necessary to punish himself in the worst manner that he could think of, so he blinded himself by stabbing himself in the eyes because he felt that he could never see the joy in anything anymore. Out of despair or feelings that are unimaginable he stabbed his eyes but even an act like that behind whatever feelings were driving them it took a lot of strength to accomplish such a painful task and not everyone would be able to do it. Oedipus was a victim of a tragic fate but he did have a lot of heroic qualities that would make someone question how could something so horrible happen to him.
        My teacher discussed with us what the definition of a tragedy is and she told us that it was when something very bad happened to someone with position in society for example like a queen or king, even prince or princess because at that time nobody cared what happened to the commoners. Even though Oedipus didn't know he was of royal blood in the beginning until he finds out the truth; I think that it's reasonable to think when someone with such a strong character like Oedipus falls it would be tragic therefore, making him a tragic figure.