Orestes and Oedipus

What are the similarities and differences between Orestes and Oedipus as tragic heroes? In the following paragraphs I am going to compare Orestes and Oedipus as tragic heroes. There are a number of characteristics that identify a tragic hero. Although a tragic hero causes his own downfall, his fate is usually not deserved, and his punishment is much worse than his crime. A tragic hero is usually someone of importance or power who has a …

…positions. Oedipus loses his sight, but gains the truth and learns humility. He was once great, but because of his hubris he came to fall, and his punishment was to live the rest of his life with the knowledge of what he had done. Once more in Greek mythology, human beings were used as pawns in a godly game of chess; but at least this is one of those times when an innocent hero emerged.