Final answer:
Oedipus, while prone to anger and pride, is seen as a good person through his high social status, commitment to justice, and willingness to take responsibility for his actions. His tragic flaw, arrogance, contributes to his downfall, though his quest for truth and justice maintains audience empathy and provides a cathartic experience.
Step-by-step explanation:
We understand that Oedipus, despite his tendencies towards anger and pride, is fundamentally a good person who believes in justice through various aspects of his character and actions within the narrative of Sophocles' play. Aristotle's concepts of the Greek hero emphasize a protagonist with high social status whom ordinary citizens can admire. Hence, when Oedipus, a king, accepts his fate and acknowledges his wrongs without shifting blame, it demonstrates a commitment to justice and an understanding that the higher principles govern all, regardless of their social standing.
Oedipus' tragic flaw, or hamartia, is his arrogance; he erroneously believed he could outsmart the gods and his destiny. Yet, his downfall is rendered tragic because his actions are borne from good intentions—specifically his desire to defy his destiny and to serve his people as a just king. His acceptance of responsibility for his actions, even though they were unknown to him at the time, shows personal accountability and adherence to moral standards.
Moreover, the narrative structure of the play reinforces the theme that justice must be upheld above personal costs. Oedipus' pursuit of the truth and justice for the slain King Laius is a quest that ultimately reveals his own guilt. Through this process, the audience experiences both catharsis, releasing their emotions with Oedipus' fall, and an educational moral lesson on the dangers of hubris and the importance of accepting responsibility for one's actions.