Oedipus Rex is a Tragedy
Many things can describe a tragedy. However, according to definition of a tragedy by Aristotle, there are only five. The play has to have a tragic hero, preferably of noble stature. Second, the tragic hero must have a tragic flaw. Because of that flaw, the hero falls from either power or death. Due to the fall, the tragic hero discovers something. Finally, there must be catharsis in the minds of the audience. Oedipus Rex qualifies as a tragedy. It fits all the characteristics as defined by Aristotle. The tragic hero of a play is a man of some social standing and personal reputation, but sufficiently like ourselves in terms of his weaknesses that we feel fear and pity when a tragic flaw, rather than an associate, causes his downfall. Oedipus is the tragic hero in this play for many reasons. Even though he does not know it, he fulfills the oracle's prophecy by killing his father, Laius, and then sleeping with his mother, Jocasta. His father was just a tragic mistake. Oedipus thought that the person he killed was just a random person that was harassing him. Oedipus definitely has a tragic flaw; it is his quickness to take a pos
Oedipus's quickness to take a position causes him to gouge his own eyes out and lose his power. It also costs Oedipus his wife and mother, along with his kids. No one will marry his daughter, because she has come from an incestuous marriage. Since no on e will marry his daughter, and his wife killed herself, Oedipus gouges out his own eyes in order to no be able to see what the world has done too him. The only problem is the fact that almost all of the Thebes know what he did, so they know that he killed Laius. From the audience's standpoint, they can take away many meanings from this play. In the times when this play was written, the audience believed that the gods controlled what was going to happen to them. It was their destiny. Oedipus Rex proves to strengthen their belief in the gods. This is done by Oedipus fulfilling everything that was prophesized for him to do. Laius and Jocasta sent Oedipus to his death, but the Shepard couldn't do it. Oedipus then hears the prophecy in Corinth, and flees. On his subsequent journey, he kills his father, comes to Thebes, and marries his mother. Oedipus discovers that he has to do something to recover from hi
Some common words found in the essay are:
Oedipus Rex, Laius Oedipus, Oedipus Socrates, Thebes Laius', Rex Tragedy, Laius Jocasta, Oedipus Oedipus, tragic hero, oedipus rex, tragic flaw, laius oedipus, own eyes, quickness position, marry daughter, hero play, tragic hero play,
Approximate Word count = 791
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
