Free Essays on Oedipus the King: The Archetype of the Tragic Man According to Greek mythology, the Sphinx, a creature that is part woman, part part bird and part lion, he caused famine and disease in Thebes that could only be solved when someone solved his riddle. Oedipus went to Thebes and answered the riddle correctly. The citizens of Thebes consider him a hero because he brought harmony back to their kingdom. Sophocles alludes to the enigma of the Sphinx several times in his play Oedipus Rex. Since the riddle is a metaphor for Oedipus' life, it is ironic that he was able to answer the question. His revelation of the riddle of the Sphinx further supports the perspective of Oedipus as the archetype of the tragic man. The sphinx asks: "What has four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon and three legs at night?" Oedipus correctly answers "man", saving Thebes from the terrible drought and disease caused by the horrible creature. The different times of day mentioned in the question actually represent different stages of life. In the morning, or during childhood, humans continue to crawl ...