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According to Aristotle's Poetics, a tragic hero can be hindered by harmartia which leads to his downfall. In Oedipus the King, a tragic play written by Sophocles shows King Oedipus as having many flaws that fall under the umbrella of hamartia including: stubbornness, madnness, and pride that soon lead to his utimate demise. Oedipus brandishes an attitude of stubbornness throughout the play. Oedipus' stubbornness is revealed early in the play when Tiresias, a prophet of …

…many problems throughout his life. Indeed, hamartia is not the only factor that leads to Oedipus' utimate demise, but it is the root causing the problem of his downfall. Oedipus displays many flaws throughout the play, like many tragic heroes Oedipus eventually faces his downfall. It isn't Oedipus' fate or destiny to become doomed from his wretched sins, it is his error of judgement and the flaws in his character that impede him from reigning!