Oedipus Rex begins with the exposition. The exposition usually takes place in the beginning of the story and it sets up the rest of the plot. This is usually where the audience is introduced the dramatic conflict within the story. In Oedipus Rex, it is found out that the city of Thebes is besieged by a plagued that could lead to the devastation of the city. Kreon returns from Delphi and learns from the oracle that because the murderer of the former king, Laius, has never been punished, the city will suffer from a terrible plague. The killer must be captured and then either killed or banished in order to lift the plague by the gods. This is where the reader is first encounters the dramatic conflict within the story. The dramatic conflict is the murder of the former king, Laius. Oedipus, the present king, pledges to find the murderer. Oedipus declares to his people, "You shall see how I stand by you, as I should, Avenging this country and the god as well..." (33.137) "Whoever killed La

Oedipus Rex, regarded by many, the greatest of all Greek tragedies displays great skill in its balancing of action, characters, and philosophical content into a smooth and flawless tragedy. The story flowed brilliantly from the beginning of the exposition where we first learn about the Laius death all the way up to the final scene where Oedipus is taken away.

Iokaste wanders hysterically through the building fretting over what will transpire. She then locks herself in her bedroom while the servants look on helplessly. Moments later Oedipus rushes to see what is the matter with Iokaste. He breaks down the door and then finds that Iokaste has hung herself. The climax begins when he loosens the rope and lowers her down. Oedipus then rips from her gown her golden brooches and plunges them down straight into his own eyeballs crying, "No more, No more shall you look on the misery about me, The horrors of my own doing!......From this hour, go in darkness." (65.45) He then stuck at his eyes again and again with the sharp golden brooches. This then concludes the climax of the story. From there the falling action and catastrophe begin. This is where Kreon the new king enters. He acts as a compassionate king and promises to give Iokaste a suitable funeral. Oedipus asks the king to banish him, but Oedipus refuses until he receives guidance from the oracle. Kreon then sends for Oedipus's two young children Antigone and Ismene. The girls come in weeping and then take their father's side. H

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1002
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)