Tragic heroes provoke an intense empathetic response, developing an inevitable story of anguish and triumph. In Sophocles' Oedipus the King, Oedipus is such a hero. He has many good, even heroic, qualities; however, his deep faults ultimately lead to his downfall and terrible punishment. Although he presents himself as a fundamentally good royal being, he has flaws that ultimately cannot be controlled and which devastate his life. As readers observe his evolution and that of the intertwined themes in the play, we ourselves suffer as we see and hear the ironies of his relationships and motivations. Tragic heroes are endearing and saddening, and the pure idea of ​​their being can arouse deep emotion that endures across civilizations and generations. Oedipus Rex is an iconic example of a tragic story with a tragic main character. The quality of being larger than life, or a regal figure, is one of the main aspects of a tragic hero. Oedipus is the king of Thebes, appointed there after solving the riddle of the Sphinx, a supernatural creature that once held the city captive. He was born into a family of the highest social rank: King Laius and Queen Jocasta, and was adopted into the family of King Polybius and Queen Merope. As a member of royalty, Oedipus is an important figure. Without the appearance of an important man that viewers could recognize, Oedipus would not be presented in such a light. Oedipus is the “peerless king” and the “first of men”, as the priest calls him. Oedipus also knows his fame: “Here I am myself, you all know me, the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus. » He states this in the prologue, showing that he has high self-esteem, shared by many others. The whole world is aware of Oedipus, according to him, and he should... middle of paper... suffer. Royalty, goodness and faults constitute his personality in their own right: no other intense personality trait shines through the dissected example of Oedipus. Well constructed and complex, it has stood the test of time. Tragic heroes are fully present in all famous literature. From Romeo and Juliet to Oedipus Rex, including Gatsby, Victor Frankenstein and Spiderman, tragic heroes are constantly found in human creation. They thrive on the idea that we don't control much beyond our own actions, a topic that humans have been associated with for millennia. Without these tragedies that humans can relate to and take comfort in, media as an entity would not be as popular today. Tragic heroes are morbidly fascinating, relatable and thought-provoking, lasting for years and connecting to an inner part of the entire human race. We all have an inner tragedy, a tragic hero or not.