The Tragic Flaws of Oedipus Rex At some point in our lives there is a time when we might think of ourselves as better than someone or something else. There may even be a point where making a decision leads to a serious error in judgment. In the play Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, both of these characteristics can be seen in the main character. These characteristics are known as tragic flaws. These defects are known as hubris meaning excessive pride, leading to overconfidence, and hamartia meaning errors and poor judgment. Both of these characteristics are the main reason for the destruction and fall of humanity and the tragic hero of this play. The tragic hero cannot escape his doomed misfortune. There are many other tragic flaws beyond these two that also contribute to the hero's downfall. Destruction and fall can be seen as destiny. Even if the hero chooses his actions, the resulting consequences are such that they cannot be changed. As we have seen, no one is able to escape their destiny. Oedipus...