Greek myths and their cultural significance

Heroism

Compare Oedipus as a hero with three other heroes in Greek myth. In what ways is he a typical Greek hero, and in what ways is he different? In what way is the larger story of his life based on the standard pattern of hero myth, but how also is it different?

According to Wikipedia, a tragic hero is a hero who is otherwise perfect except for a fatal flaw, that eventually results in his demise (2005). The concept of the tragic hero was created by the ancient Greeks and defined by the philosopher Aristotle. An Aristotelian tragic hero possesses four characteristics: "goodness, superiority (in terms of politics, reputation, or perceived wisdom, etc.), a tragic flaw, and a realization of both his flaw and his inevitable demise." Usually, the realization of fatal flaw results in his downfall.

The famous philosopher Aristotle laid the foundations for literary criticism of Greek tragedy, initiating one of Western philosophy's most important questions: why are people so interested in watching tragic heroes suffer horrible fates (Struck, 2002)? Aristotle believed that the tragic hero is such a popular character because the audience tends to be emotionally attached to him, and the audience both fears what will happen to the tragic hero and feels sorry for him.

The typical tragic hero is a complex and well-developed character, as is Sophocles' Oedipus the King (Struck, 2002). A textbook tragic hero, Oedipus draws out the three responses from the audience -- attachment, fear and pity. In this regard, he is a very typical tragic Greek hero.

Oedipus' nobility and virtue make him a classic tragic hero (Struck, 2002). Audiences can relate to Oedipus because he is like them, yet a more noble and respectable version. He is a king by birthright, as his parents were the King and Queen of Thebes or possibly the King and Queen of Corinth. He is also noble by way of his actions. After he solves the riddle of the Sphinx, Creon gives Oedipus dominion over the city. His title and heroic actions earn him the respect of his audience, making him a classic hero.

The complexity of Oedipus' "harmartia," is an important element of his heroism (Struck, 2002). The Greek term "harmartia" means "tragic flaw." However, the tragic flaw, in Greek mythology, is more of a mistake than an innate flaw. Aristotle stated that all tragic heroes suffer a "harmartia." This human weakness allows the audience to relate to the hero and feel sorry for him. Oedipus' flaw is his lack of knowledge about his own identity. Because he is not responsible for this flaw, the audience feels sorry for him and fears for him because they know there is nothing he can do to change his fate.

Like Oedipus, most Greek heroes have flaws. The hero Odysseus is also a self-centered and unremorseful character (Winnington-Ingram, 1980). Thus, he has a tragic flaw, as does Oedipus. This flaw is demonstrated when Odysseus demands that his men follow him to the Cyclops' cave, aware of the dangers in there, simply because he is curious. He shows no remorse when many of his friends are killed in the cave.

The hero Hercules demonstrates principle, integrity and strength in his every move. However, even this hero has a tragic flaw -- his devotion to Deianira. He is compelled to risk everything to protect her. He is also devoted to his friends. Unlike Odysseus, he would never allow harm to fall upon them. Unlike the sharp-witted heroes Oedipus and Odysseus, Hercules is more muscle than brain and this is another flaw that affects his fate.

The tragic hero always elicits sympathy from the audience. According to Struck (2002): "Finally, Oedipus' downfall elicits a great sense of pity from the audience. First, by blinding himself, as opposed to committing suicide, Oedipus achieves a kind of surrogate death that intensifies his suffering. He comments on the darkness - not just the literal inability to see, but also religious and intellectual darkness - that he faces after becoming blind. In effect, Oedipus is dead, for he receives none of the benefits of the living; at the same time, he is not dead by definition, and so his suffering cannot end. Oedipus receives the worst of both worlds between life and death, and he elicits greater pity from the audience."

While Oedipus is the classic tragic hero, when we look at a character like Achilles, it is clear that there are other types of heroes that Oedipus does not compare to. The tragic hero's own tragic flaws result in their demise. This does not seem to be the case with Achilles.

In fact, in The Iliad, he is not immediately painted as a hero. There are references to his heroic nature but it is not spoon fed to the audience. His decisions do not result in death and his heroism is never spelled out. Achilles is portrayed as a man so strong and skilled in battle that he cannot be defeated. In the Iliad, he kills many Trojans, including the typical hero, Hector. However, Achilles does have a weak spot -- his heel. He was eventually shot in the heel by a poisoned arrow and this led to his demise.

While Oedipus is in many ways a typical Greek hero, there are many things about him that defy our preconceived ideas about heroism (Struck, 2002). While Oedipus appears to have the typical hero characteristics -- he is a brave, unselfish, and honest king -- he also has a dark side and an inner rage. In addition, unlike the typical hero who comes out on top, Oedipus makes some poor decisions that result in his demise. It is true that his fate occurs because of his tragic flaw, as his judgmental and narcissistic personality ultimately destroy him.