Greek theater developed to meet religious needs. This proves to be an effective way to ensure that its citizens understand destiny. The Greek belief of the time was that a person's destiny was predetermined at birth and could not be changed. A tragedy is a very serious matter of great importance that focuses on a single subject. Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, defined the structure of what makes a tragic hero. A tragic hero comes from nobility and achieves greatness; has a dramatic fall secondary to his own pride; recognizes his role in the fall; and arouses fear and pity in the audience because of his terrible fate ("Aristotle's ideas about tragedy"). Sophocles plays Aristotle's perfect tragic hero in Oedipus the King. Oedipus's destiny is to become a tragic hero. Shortly after arriving in the city of Thebes, Oedipus, a great thinker, solves the riddle of the Sphinx and thus ends the Sphinx's reign of terror over the city and is proclaimed king. He is then called “the noblest of men!” » (Sophocles. Prologue. 46). An epidemic of hatred has taken over the city and left it barren. The people of Thebes came to their king, Oedipus, and asked for his help. Oedipus has already saved the city once and was elevated to king through his efforts. He is proud of his status and enjoys being their savior, which is why he will do what it takes to save them once again. (Kitchen 4). He declares that “to do all that he can / to help others is man's noblest work” (Sophocles. Episode I. 319-320). Creon, Oedipus' brother-in-law, goes to see a prophet who informs him that the city is polluted by the habitation of the murderer of King Laius and that the plague will only be lifted when the attacker is no longer among them . ... middle of paper ...... taken. He lived up to the prophecy given to him at birth. Oedipus asks to be exiled, but he ends up returning to the palace. Works Cited “Aristotle’s Ideas on Tragedy.” Cuip.uchicago.edu. University of Chicago, nd Web. April 22, 2014.Burt, Daniel S. “Oedipus Rex. » Bloom's literature. Facts about File, Inc. Web. April 12, 2014. Cook, James Wyatt. “Oedipus the King. » Bloom's literature. Facts about File, Inc. Web. April 17, 2014.Fisler, Ben. “Community in Oedipus Rex.” Bloom's literature. Facts about File, Inc. Web. April 17, 2014. Savoie, John. “Abraham and Oedipus: paradigms of comic and tragic belief.” Renaissance 65.4 (2013): 228-248. Humanities Full Text (HWWilson). Internet. April 22, 2014. Sophocles. Oedipus the King. Literature: Read, React, Write, Ed. Kirszner & Mandell7th ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2011. 1744-1785. Print.