hero characteristics essay

Definition Essay: What Makes A Hero?

Show More What Makes A Hero? To many, a hero is defined as a person who is idealized for bravery, outstanding accomplishments, and or noble qualities. But in all reality, a hero is a person who puts others before themselves. A person that you can look up to as a role model is a hero. A truly genuine and humane person is defined as a hero. A hero is selfless and cares deeply about others. A person who can give everything up for other people and not worry about how it would affect them is a hero. To be a hero, you do need to be courageous to make differences, but you also need a compassionate heart. A hero must exhibit traits of self-sacrifice. A true hero is always searching for a way to help others. The firefighters who meandered through the dark, dusty, crumpled building put their lives on the line to save the men, women, and children that were abandoned within the remains of the Twin Towers, displayed heroism to precision. They did not care about their lives, they knew what such tragedy would do to others so they sacrificed their lives for others who were …show more content… A person who is gutsy, superhuman, and or honorable. In a way both my parents have powers, except, theirs is love and sympathy. They love me no matter what may happen or what unwise choices I make. I know if anything would happen to me they would be devastated and if anything were to happen to them I would be distraught. But they also would not criticize me for something that I like to do as long as it is not putting my life in danger. I do all I can to show my parents how much I love and appreciate all they have done for me, but it would not be good enough considering all they have done. They give me what they can and always has the best advice, even though I might not like it. This shows how both my parents can be heroes because even though they may not be a courageous superhero, they still care and do what they can for me, showing a compassionate

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Qualities Of A Hero Essay

A hero exhibits many qualities. Responsibility, bravery, and loyalty are just a few on many qualities that can be found in heroes. But to me, some of the most important qualities a hero needs are recognizing one's flaws and weaknesses, listening to others, and selflessness. With recognizing one's flaws and weaknesses, a person, a hero, can learn what they need to do to better themselves. They know the limit of their abilities and can work to improve themselves. Or, they can rely on people who can make up for their own weaknesses. It shows growth when a hero can do this. By overcoming such things, the hero can grow in their abilities and can become better at helping others. Listening to others is being able to take on note other's opinions and be willing to act on them. In doing this, a hero could achieve more as sometimes, other people do have better ideas or know what to do or just have a better overall grasp of a situation. A hero needs to know when to …show more content…

He completes his goal to be remembered in the minds of his people through his slaying of Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. But, he loses his close companion Enkidu and his chance at a restored youth. He goes from being someone who throws his weight around and uses his strength to take what he wants to someone who is respected and revered as a hero by the people of his town. However, I do not see him to be a hero. Yes, he changes for the better and completes heroic acts along the way, but many things he does are done to help improve his reputation or used to show off. He is unwilling to admit a weakness, not acknowledging fear until facing the monster. But, Gilgamesh does have moments of selflessness. He completes what Campbell would call the hero's journey and comes out a better person. However, I do not find enough of the qualities that I look for in a hero in Gilgamesh. I find his motives to be selfish at their core. I cannot call him a

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Examples Of Heroism In Fahrenheit 451

There are many traits possessed by those called heroes. Whether it is in real life or in fiction, in the past, present, and future every hero desires these character: traits intelligence, bravery, and honesty. “Montag picked a single small volume from the floor. Where do we begin? He opened the book halfway and peered at it.

Malcolm X And Beowulf Comparison Essay

In modern day, a hero is typically a person who is revered and appreciated for making or attempting to make a difference in the world. Qualities a hero may have are: integrity, leadership, strength, confidence, courage, and humility. These qualities have allowed and equipped men and women to fight for freedom, human rights, equality, and education. Although Malcolm X and Beowulf existed centuries apart and faced different adversities, they both share the heroic traits of courage and leadership. The epic hero Beowulf and the modern day hero Malcolm X both share the heroic characteristic of courage.

Examples Of Plagiarism In The Odyssey

Having these traits as a hero is important because it makes escaping dangerous escalations easier and it helps a hero gain success with less

The Tragic Hero Of Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

A hero is someone who puts the needs of others before their own and works towards a greater

'The Man In The Red Bandana'

“A true hero isn’t measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart.” This quote can be found in the movie Hercules, when Zeus tries to explain that what separates heroes from the average person is not the capabilities they possess, but the choices they make. Heroism is not about what you can do, but about how and why you are doing it. Heroes are ordinary people who are courageous in trying situations, while overcoming their challenges with selflessness and dedication, and without seeking recognition or attention.

The Odyssey: The Heroic Traits Of Odysseus

Hero’s use their intelligence to help people and to do what is right unlike the

Women In Yvain And The Magic Ring

While that is correct, a “true hero” possesses many qualities that prove they are more than just a character who saves others from danger. These qualities exemplify the power, wisdom, and courage that

The Heroic Traits Of Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

These traits are shown by Genghis Khan, Choi Yuna, my brother, and Odysseus. The fact that Odysseus and heroes in the modern age share the same traits proves how important they are for being a hero. In addition, every hero should be able to protect others out of kindness and for a cause they believe in. Without heroes, society would continue to make the same mistakes. As role models, they push society in the right direction and assist people in decision

Chris Mccandless Characteristics

There are many characteristics that make up a hero. For instance, many hero’s are known to be very brave, courageous and motivated people. Many people have different ideas of what they think a hero is, but no who idea’s are ever alike. Some people when they get asked “What is a hero?” they

Wiglaf As An Epic Hero In The Epic Of Beowulf

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What Makes Gilgamesh An Epic Hero

A modern hero is someone of supernatural ability's of someone with great intelligence. In this epic Gilgamesh shows more of what it takes to be a epic hero. A epic hero is of nobility, integrity, strength, wisdom and many other great quality's. One of the great quality's that make Gilgamesh a epic hero is his willingness to put others before himself. He care more about others then himself and this made him a true warrior and not only bond but at mind.

Definition Of Heroes Essay

“If you can tell me who your heroes are, I can tell you how you are going to turn out. It is really important to have the right heroes.” – Warren Buffet. Many people are looking for heroes in wrong places, and misunderstanding the term hero itself. Strength, bravery, courage, and honesty are the things most people think when the name hero pops.

Definition Essay On Heroism

Also not trying to be someone else because a hero knows they can’t be anybody else they can only be themself. The idea is a hero is not a person who has super power but is a regular person like you and me, and they know who they are and are proud of them

Personal Narrative: What Makes A Hero

Not to take away from that football player 's accomplishments in any way—I 'm a great admirer of excellence in any form—but I found nothing about him even remotely heroic. I wondered if he was ever introduced to my patient if he wouldn 't find the label a bit embarrassing himself. What actually makes a hero? I 'd argue it 's the willingness to make a personal sacrifice for the benefit of others. If you don 't find yourself having to resist a voice inside your head urging you to save yourself instead of whatever action you 're contemplating, my heart, at least, will refuse to recognize your actions—however legitimately compassionate or courageous they may be—as heroic.

Reflective Essay On Heroes

My heroes are no exclusion to this truth. Many years ago when I was younger, my heroes were more inclined to super heroes. If a hero didn’t wear a tight and a cape and was not able to fly he was not considered a hero for me. As I grew up and matured, my vison of a hero also matured at the same time. My views now turn out to be more complex and I can gage intangible matters, which does allows me to subordinate these values of what a hero is indeed.

More about Qualities Of A Hero Essay

Qualities Of A Hero

Odysseus heroic qualities.

Heroes are not in it for themselves, they are guided by what they think is right. To be a hero, one needs to be selfless, courageous and strong. They need selflessness to be humble and put others needs before their own. These qualities truly show the real heroes in both literature and in today’s world.

Personal Michigan Hero

To me a hero is someone who is nice, kind, caring, open minded, confident, not afraid to help others and not a quitter.

Osama Bin Laden Analysis

To be a hero can can be defined in many ways. Heros are usually associated with courage, fearlessness, noble qualities, outstanding achievements, and a kind heart. These traits are what make up an ideal contributor to society helping those in need. The word hero can have a different meaning for cultures and religions. Osama Bin Laden may be considered a hero to the radical islams but he is a horrible human being to the rest of the world. It all depends on the views of the people.

Examples Of Bravery In The Odyssey

A quality a hero must have is bravery. Bravery is being courageous, fearless. Bravery is needed to be heroic. You have to be strong to help people or yourself. You have to do things that are scary but you have to be strong.

Odysseus As A Hero In The Odyssey, By Homer

You have to have clearness to get out out of tough situations or to problem solve, being brave is another example of a hero, and being persistent is a another great quality of a hero because you need to always be trying to do something great for others and not stop even if you want to. In the book The Odyssey, by Homer, he proclaims '"friends, were hardly strangers at meeting danger--and this danger is no worse than what we have faced when Cyclops penned us up in his vaulted cave with crushing force."(Homer 277) when facing hard times Odysseus and his men kept fighting through it. When facing difficult times you have to learn how to problem solve and make yourself learn to be a smarter person from doing this. When you keep going after you goal there is a higher percentage of accomplishing it. Being brave is a harder quality to do but when you put your needs before other that makes you a better version of yourself. People in the world don't need to have the word hero as a able to do something great for people, if you are brave for someone else then you're putting your needs before theres and you're classified as a hero for example in the arrival The Psychology of Heroism, Kendra Cherry states “...During the summer of 2012, three women who survived the shooting revealed that they had been saved by their boyfriends, The three men had shielded their girlfriends

Johnny: A Hero In The Outsiders

What is a hero? A hero is a person that helps someone and stands up for what is right.

Attributes Of Heroism In 'Night'

Heroic attributes can be found in the most unexpected places, and in the most normal people. From catastrophes to history to science fiction, heroes are present in all types of life. In order for someone to be a hero, they don't need a costume or a special name, they simply need attributes such as courage, selflessness, and

Qualities Of A Hero In The Odyssey By Homer

To be a hero, it requires certain qualities that very few possess. One must be brave, alert, and be able to take risks. Being a hero is not an easy task, and it takes lots of dedication to be able to cope with the danger of saving someone else’s life. Firstly, being brave is the number one quality that a hero must possess within them.

Essay On Hero's Journey Of A Hero

The true definition of a hero has been argued among authors time and time again but Christopher Reeve, the man who played the role of the well-known superhero Superman, stated it the best when he said “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Many people have the option between choosing to be brave and choosing to be a coward. One of the main things that differentiates the two is that one who is brave is willing to face and endure pain or danger for the better of people around them. A coward however, is someone who lacks the courage to overcome their obstacles and instead of confronting their dangers, they run for them. A hero

Is Grace Simons A Hero?

According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American Essayist, ” A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer” If you are trying to be a hero you need to be able to deal with the bad times and the goods. Heroism is when a person is a supportive, caring, loving, helpful,will be there for you no matter what is happening, and will put you before themselves.

The True Hero In Eric Blehm's Fearless

What is a hero? A hero is someone that others admire or look up to for something they have done. Heroes have to have many different qualities to be able to do the things they do. A hero shows bravery. They will stand for the things they believe in, no matter if it may cause them harm. They protect those around them as well. A hero is courageous.They take risks. Heroes must be able to overcome anything that is thrown their way. They do not cower in the face of fear, they laugh at it. One of the most important traits a hero needs is to be fearless. The word fearless means to not be afraid of things that may seem dangerous or scary to others.

The Three Core Characteristics Of Beowulf And Shahrazulf

First and foremost, a hero needs to be courageous enough to take action, even against impossible odds; although, the form that that courageousness takes are often different between heroes. Take Beowulf and Shahrazad for example. Beowulf is a famous and powerful Geat leader, a “man whose name was known for courage” (Beowulf 120), especially in the field of battle, where he best demonstrates his courageousness. When Beowulf hears of the attacks on Hereot, he quickly comes to offer Hrothgar his services, and in his first battle with Grendel, Beowulf displayed immense bravery and courage fighting the demon, knowing that he may well perish, and even more so in deciding to do battle bare-handed and naked

What is a Hero? Essay

There are many types of heroes (such as the ones in comic books, myths, movies, or even just everyday life heroes) but all of them have perseverance when they’re going through a conflict. Heroes are role models and they’re people that we look up too. They all have unique and special qualities that make one another different from each other. For example policemen battle crime everyday and when they’re overcoming a conflict they have determination, courage and other traits that people admire them for and that make them as a hero. Typically a hero is admired for their achievement/actions and qualities.

Characteristics of a Hero Essay

     Bravery is a great trait for a hero to posses. I think bravery is a key quality because you don’t always know what lies ahead of you and you have to be brave to continue. A good example of this is Charles Lindburgh. He was the first person to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. I believe that took a great amount of bravery because no one had ever made it across, so he didn’t know what lie ahead of him. One of his many good quotes he said, “The most effective way to do it, is to just do it”, (Lindburgh 1).

My Hero A Hero

What does make a hero a hero? Is it there looks? Alternatively, maybe is it their personality? However, the question is what are those essential qualities that make one a hero? Different people require different heroes to look up to or try to emulate. However, whoever it may be, they all possess certain qualities. My hero is my mother, for the reason that she is selfless, compassion, and courage. That kind of selflessness can often be premeditated, since concentrating on others' needs often winds up helping one accomplish one’s own goals. However, a heroic leader does so without any anticipation of a return. The display and concern show the care one has for others. This can often apparent itself in strong but gentle actions planned to increase the lives of others. Courage and bravery come to mind first when we think of heroism. However, it is difficult to achieve anything truly heroic unless one is up against overwhelming chances. As Nelson Mandela put it, "Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it." These minor acts of heroism rarely attract any notice. A true hero is always sympathetic, benevolent and shows a great deal of compassion and sympathy to those poorly or in agony. He or she keeps away judgements; that are oriented to the self and embraces an attitude that serves others.

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Epic of Beowulf Essay - Qualities of a Hero

Beowulf: Qualities of a Hero A hero is someone that helps others no matter what the situation. There are many qualities that a hero must posses such as bravery, courage, strength, intelligence and honor. These qualities alone are not enough to make a hero. They must also be pure at heart, fight for the good of mankind and only fight when it is to protect the people and not out of revenge. Beowulf is everything a hero should be, but contains a few qualities that a hero should not posses. When Beowulf sailed with his men to Herot he had one goal, to rid the hall of Grendal. Beowulf was under no obligation to destroy Grendal and never asked for anything in return for his services. A true hero would never ask for money or anything of value. He put his life at risk to save the people of Herot, who he didn’t even know, out of his own good nature Great strength has been a trait that has been identified with heroes in many stories and legends. Than he saw hanging on the wall, a heavy Sword, hammered by giants, strong And blessed with their magic, the best of all weapons But so massive that no ordinary man could lift ... (II. 1557-1560) Beowulf possessed great strength that separated him from other men. Being able to use a sword that no ordinary man was able to carry gives the feeling that Beowulf is something more than a human being. It makes him special and causes him to stand out from all other men. Fame is something that makes a hero more noted. Beowulfs popularity had spread all over the world. He never let this go to his head and he never thought that he was better than everyone else because of it. “Your fame is everywhere, my friend,/Reaches to the ends of the earth, and you hold it in your heart wisely...” (II.1704-1706). A hero should not be foolish or full of himself. Unferth said: You’re Beowulf, are you- the same Boastful fool who fought a swimming Match with Brecca, both of you daring and young and proud,exploring the deepest Seas , risking your lives for no reason But the danger? (II. 506-511) A hero should not have to prove to himself or to anyone else that he is brave, fearless or courageous. If he is pure a heart and his intentions are good then he can be considered a true hero.

In this essay, the author

• Explains the qualities of a hero, such as courage, strength, intelligence, and honor. beowulf's goal was to rid the hall of grendal, but he never asked for money or anything of value.
• Opines that fame is something that makes a hero more noted. beowulf never let this go to his head and never thought that he was better than everyone else.
• Analyzes how beowulf became more sensible and wiser as he fought grendal without a plan and without thinking.

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Oedipus Sight And Blindness Essay

In the play “Oedipus Rex by Sophocles” the themes of sight and blindness are produced to develop in the readers mind that it is not the eyesight, but insight that holds the key to truth and without It no amount of knowledge can help uncover the truth. Insight can be described as the ability to see what is going to happen. Characters like Oedipus and Teiresias hold a significant role in the play and other characters like Iocaste are also important in the play.

Blindness In Oedipus The King

Here one sees that even after obtaining all this knowledge Oedipus, who does not believe any of it, goes on his journey to find Laius’ murderer. At this point one theme makes itself clear, Oedipus refuses to accept the truth in his life, and Sophocles makes it a point to bring this up several times through the use of tragic irony, symbolism, and repetition throughout the play.

Realizing Identity, Realizing Flaws

Initially Oedipus appears blind to the knowledge of his heritage, but, by the end of the play he gains the horrifying knowledge of his true identity and the information he has indeed fulfilled the prophecy. Once Oedipus realizes that he has fulfilled the oracle, he panics and cries out, "LIGHT LIGHT LIGHT / never again flood these eyes with your white radiance, oh gods, my eyes. All, all / the oracles have proven true" (ll. 1492-1494). Oedipus finally comes out of figurative blindness and into the "light," or knowledge, that he has indeed killed his father and married his mother. He essentially curses he new-found wisdom and begs that "light never again" reach his eyes because of its horrifying consequences. In addition, Oedipus recognizes the fact that he "knew nothing until now, saw nothing until now, and became / the husband of the woman who gave him birth" (ll. 1926-1927). He admits that that until his conversation with shepherd he "knew nothing until now," as he believed that he would not complete the prophecy by fleeing to Corinth. Unfortunately, this new i...

Vision and Blindness In Oedipus Tyrannus by Sophocles

The play Oedipus Tyrannus, written by Sophocles, is a play filled with symbols and irony involving the aspect of both vision and blindness. This aspect of the novel takes on an important role in the life of Oedipus, the ruler of Thebes. He originally feels as though he knows and sees everything, nevertheless, as the motto of the Oracle at Delphi states, he does not "know thyself," as he will find out toward the end of the play. The notion of seeing and blindness becomes an important and ironic symbol in the tragic fall of Oedipus, a man who could not escape his lot or moira.

Oedipus the King

“…they will never see the crime I have committed or had done upon me!” These are the words Oedipus shouted as he blinds himself upon learning the truth of his past. It is ironic how a person blessed with perfect physical vision could in reality be blind to to matters of life and conscience. During his prime as King of Thebes, Oedipus is renowned for his lucidity and his ability to rule with a clear concept of justice and equality. The people loved him for his skill and wit, as he saved Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx. As a result, Oedipus became overly confident, and refuses to see that he may be the cause of the malady that is plaguing his kingdom. Although physically Oedipus has full use of his eyes, Sophocles uses sight to demonstrate how Oedipus is blind to the truth about his past what it might me for both him and his kingdom. Upon learning the truth, Oedipus gouges out his eyes, so he won’t have to look upon his children, or the misfortune that is his life. Once physically unable to see, Oedipus has clear vision as to his fate, and what must be done for his kingdom and his family

Oedipus the King: Light vs. Dark

Ironically, this causes the king to gouge out his eyes, which have been blind to the truth for so long.  He screams, You, you'll see no more the pain I suffered, all the pain I caused! Too long you looked on the ones you never should have seen, blind to the ones you longed to see, to know! Blind from this hour on! Blind in the darkness—blind! Oedipus furthers Sophocles' sight metaphor when he defends his decision to humble himself through blindness: "What good were eyes to me?

Jose Saramago's Blindness

“Fear can cause blindness, said the girl with the dark glasses, Never a truer word, that could not be truer, we were already blind the moment we turned blind, fear struck us blind, fear will keep us blind” (Saramago 129). In today’s society, people are more concerned with their own “little world,” rather than looking at the extensive perspective of life. One reason why people can sometimes be classified as being “blind” is because people fear the unknown, and rejects the unfamiliar. Many people are not comfortable with stepping out of their shell and exploring their surroundings, let alone trying to look through the eyes of the segregated minority. In the novel Blindness, Jose Saramago metaphorically uses the word “blindness” as a term meaning, the truth that we cannot bear to see. To avoid the outside world, many people tend to shelter themselves from the obvious reality, and tend to focus of their “own” meaning of reality. However, when our vision is stripped from our secluded selves, reality is all you can truly “see.”

Beowulf Is Not a Modern Day Hero

A hero not only needs to be physically outstanding, but he also needs to have integrity, moral values and needs to act without thinking in his own benefit. Beowulf has many characteristics of a hero but he also has some defects that make me think that he wouldn’t be considered a hero in today´s world. A hero concept evolves with a culture, Beowulf has many things that the Anglo-Saxons viewed as heroism but he misses many things that are important for a modern hero.

Sight and Blindness in Oedipus Tyrannus

In the beginning of the play, Oedipus has perfect physical vision. However, he is blind and ignorant to the truth about himself and his past. He desperately wants to know, to see, but he cannot. Oedipus' blindness which must be considered is that many times throughout the course of the action he is warned not to pursue the matter any further, for fear that the truth could be damaging to him as the prophesies would suggests. The events are made all the more tragic at the point where he thinks he can 'see' when he at last realizes that he is in fact the murderer of Laius, and yet he is still blind to the final horrible truth. To make the situation worst Jocasta his wife advises Oedipus not to pursue the matter further: "Stop-in the name of god, ….call off this search!" Jocasta has seen the truth but Oedipus is only worried in she finds out he was not of noble birth.

Beowulf A Hero Essay

A hero is someone who is admired for their courage and bravery, as well as their noble accomplishments. They are respected by almost everyone, due to their kindness and charitable mindset, that drives them to fight for the good of others. Beowulf is the perfect representation of a hero, based on multiple characteristics that he displays throughout the novel. Along with his characteristics, Beowulf also takes on many “hero like” challenges and tasks. In the novel, Beowulf is praised and admired throughout the kingdom for his bravery, humility, and selflessness.

Milton’s Paradise Lost

Critics of the Romantic Period have claimed that John Milton was unconsciously allied with the forces of evil. In Paradise Lost Milton’s accounts of “Devils & Hell” are much more elaborate and awe inspiring than those of “Angels & God.” Hell and Satan are portrayed extensively whereas the reader is given brief and inconclusive glimpses of Heaven. The apparent dichotomy is explained by William Blake: “The reason Milton wrote in fetters when he wrote of Angels & Gods, and at liberty when of Devils & Hell, is because he was a true Poet and of the Devil’s Party without knowing it.”

Blindness and Sight in Oedipus the King - Lack of Vision

People can be “blinded” to the truth. The answer to their question or solution to their problem may have been obvious. Yet, they could not "see" the answer. They were blinded to the truth. Associations have been made between being blind and enlightened. A blind person is said to have powers to see invisible things. They "see" into the future. The blind may not have physical sight, but they have another kind of vision. In Sophocles' King Oedipus, Teiresias, the blind prophet, presents the truth to King Oedipus and Jocasta. Oedipus has been blinded to the truth his whole life. When he does find the truth, he loses his physical vision. Because of the truth, Oedipus blinds himself. Jocasta was blind to the true identity of Oedipus. Even when she found out the truth, she refused to accept it. In this case, those who are blind ultimately do have a higher vision - the truth.

The Theme Of Blindness In Oedipus The King Tiresias

This then strikes a nerve in Tiresias and results him to cry out, "have you eyes, / And do not see your own damnation? Eyes, / And cannot see what company you keep?" (line 437). This line standouts in the since that it mentions the words “eyes” twice. Meaning that although Oedipus has perfectly useful eyes, he cannot see past his own beliefs; since he’s like a “God”. This line then relates later to show what Tiresias knows that Oedipus will blind himself. A few lines down he says: "those now clear-seeing eyes / Shall then be darkened" (456). The two lines relate to one another because they show the irony of sight in two different

Sight vs. Blindness in Oedipus the King

Ancient Greeks cared deeply about the pursuit of knowledge. Although the truth was often a terrifying concept, they still saw it as a critical virtue. One of the main underlying themes in Oedipus the King is the struggle of sight vs. blindness. Oedipus’ blindness is not just physical blindness, but intellectual blindness as well. Sophocles has broken blindness into two distinct components. The first component, Oedipus's ability to "see" (ignorance or lack thereof), is a physical characteristic. The second component is Oedipus's willingness to "see", his ability to accept and understand his fate. Throughout the play, Sophocles demonstrates to us how these components.

An Analysis of Oedipus the King

The priests of Thebes have come to Oedipus to stop the plague that is killing the people of Thebes. They revere him for his knowledge, since he solved the riddle of the Sphix many years before and became the king. As the reader is introduced to Oedipus, they are given many facts about his life so that they become familiar with this man who has done great things. But Oedipus learns from his brother-in-law, Creon who he had sent to Delphi, that Apollo has placed this plague upon Thebes until they "Drive the corruption from the land, don't harbor it any longer, past all cure, don't nurse it in your soil - root it out!" ¹ Oedipus swears an oath before the priests and the chorus (which represents all people of Thebes) that the murderer would be found and driven from the land.

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