... the tragedy ends with a nemesis worse than death. The tragic nature of the play and the themes are conveyed not only through these features, but also through the role of the chorus and dramatic techniques including irony. Oedipus is seen as a tragic hero in the play, a principal character, in a position of social importance being the King of Thebes. His downfall is the result of incidents beyond his control, and is rather the result of fate. In Oedipus ... given the gift of understanding the truth and knowledge. This contrasts with Oedipus at the beginning of the play, but nevertheless ...

• Word Count: 1270
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... for Greek tragedians and no one depicted it more poignantly than Sophocles during the fifth century B.C. The popular Greek dramatist could have also been a successful family psychologist as this insightful play Oedipus the King reveals. Sophocles brings an added dimension to the ancient tragedy by introducing the element of family dysfunction into the dramatic mix. While Oedipus did not realize he had committed both patricide and incest, his disturbing dreams ... husband's quickly forgotten death and begetting several children by him, so Oedipus is unconsciously attracted to his daughte...

• Word Count: 1058
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate