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Oedipus the King - A Model Tragedy

He kills the man partly responsible in creating him and marries the woman who gave birth to him making him the son and husband of his mother and brother and father of his siblings and children! These events cause the audience to empathize with Oedipus and feel pity for him as no one would want these horrific events happening to them. .
             Aristotle also mentions that a tragedy should possess magnitude. According to the philosopher, to possess magnitude means the plot should flow together and all parts of the plot must fit together to form a complete idea. This fitting together helps express universal themes. A man's struggle against his destiny forms the magnitude of this play. All the events in the play revolve around this main idea. The plot is unified on one theme that a person cannot escape fate no matter how hard he tries and it is his character that determines his destiny. Oedipus tries to escape fate when he finds out about the prophecy, but ends up fulfilling the horrific foretelling. His selfish and short-tempered attitude is the reason why he is a victim of such cruel fate.
             Other than the magnitude and seriousness of the play, Aristotle believes the language and the melody used in the play must also be appropriate for the drama. The play must not be narrated, but must be acted out. Oedipus does not find out he is the murderer of Laius directly from Tiresias, but has to struggle to find out about his origin. He goes through lots of troubles and finally learns about his history by the herdsman that had given Polybus and Merope Oedipus when he was young. His struggle raises sympathy and pity for Oedipus by the audience. The audience lets go of all the tension when Oedipus blinds himself and when his mother/wife kills herself. The audience goes through catharsis, a purging or cleansing of emotions or a release of tension that usually happens after the hero experiences his downfall and teaches the audience a lesson.


Essays Related to Oedipus the King - A Model Tragedy

1. Oedipus: The Tragedy

Sophocles was a great writer of tragedies who wrote Oedipus the King modeling Aristotle's theory of a tragic play. ... He called for punishment on the man who killed Laius, the king and Oedipus" estranged father, when it was his hand that slain the king. ... With every hamartia there is a punishment, and especially in tragedies, an unjust punishment. ... As the protagonist of the play, Oedipus parallels Aristotle's theory of a tragedy. ... Sophocles followed the definition of a tragedy throughout the play, characterizing Oedipus a true tragic protagonist. ...

  • Word Count: 528
  • Approx Pages: 2

2. Violence in Classic Tragedy "

Furthermore, in studying Aeschylus's Agamemnon we can see something very different from Oedipus the King but with the same idea that violence is not the center of the tragedy and does not have to be staged. ... For example I find the tragedy in Oedipus the King coming from his lack of sight for the truth and the pain that he went through with his family. ... Whereas for an audience in Athens, the tragedy of Oedipus the King would stem from his loss of power and how he starts to grow weak. ... "(Oedipus the King, 1068 "1078) Here we see Jocasta explaining to Oedipus that the situation...

  • Word Count: 1654
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. Oedipus

In the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Oedipus is a classic tragic hero.According to Aristotle's definition, Oedipus is a tragic hero because he is a king whose life falls apart when he finds out his life story. ... All of the above characteristics make Oedipus a tragic hero according to Aristotle's ideas about tragedy, and a narcissist. Using Oedipus as an ideal model, Aristotle says that a tragic hero must be an important or influential man who makes an error in judgment, and who must then suffer the consequences of his actions. ... The birth of Oedipus presets his destiny to...

  • Word Count: 1309
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Aristotle and Oedipus

In the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Oedipus is a classic tragic hero.According to Aristotle's definition, Oedipus is a tragic hero because he is a king whose life falls apart when he finds out his life story. ... All of the above characteristics make Oedipus a tragic hero according to Aristotle's ideas about tragedy, and a narcissist. Using Oedipus as an ideal model, Aristotle says that a tragic hero must be an important or influential man who makes an error in judgment, and who must then suffer the consequences of his actions. ... The birth of Oedipus presets his destiny to...

  • Word Count: 1311
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

5. oedipus

Whoever killed King Laios might - who knows? ... Commentary It would be hard to find a play that has been more universally praised than Oedipus Rex ("King Oedipus"). Aristotle considered it the model tragedy, and that opinion has been widely held to the present day. ... The tragedy of Oedipus Rex is not so much that Oedipus commits two horrible crimes; after all, he was fated to do so, and committed them unknowingly. ... Meanwhile, back in Corinth, Oedipus grows to manhood believing Polybos and Merope (the King and Queen of Corinth) are his real parents. ...

  • Word Count: 2522
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Oedipus the King

Oedipus the King The 1st Stasimon in Sophocles" play "Oedipus the King" is mainly showing the Chorus" confusion in regards to Tiresias" accusations made towards Oedipus. ... The chorus sees Oedipus to be of higher power than them, as they call him their king. ... The issue of Denial is brought into the first stasimon when the Chorus comes to the conclusion that they should follow their king, as they see him as a well-respected role model. ... Another issue discussed in the text is "Elements of a Greek Tragedy". Three elements of a Greek Tragedy discussed in the 1st Stasimon are hamartia...

  • Word Count: 2586
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Greek Heroes

Oedipus, Antigone, and Hecuba all fit this description of a tragic hero. ... No Greek hero knows fate like King Oedipus. ... This describes the King in a sense, because even though he tried to be wise and avoid a tragedy, he was not able to and therefore suffered. ... Her father, King Oedipus also lived very publicly. ... Antigone, Hecuba, and King Oedipus all have contributed numerous comparable qualities into what makes a tragic Greek hero, and what does not. ...

  • Word Count: 636
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Aristotle And Tragedy

Imitation, then, can be in many models, but Aristotle asserts that imitation that represent men in action must be of men who are "superior or inferior, either better than we know in life, or worse, or of the same kind- (Aristotle 5). ... In Oedipus the King, the major reversal occurs when the messenger comes to cheer Oedipus and free him from his alarms about his mother. But, by revealing who he is, he only confirms Oedipus's worst fears, thus creating the opposite effect from the one intended. Additionally, he argues that through recognition, the hero discovers some truth about his or he...

  • Word Count: 1068
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

9. Irony in Literary Dramas

In literature, irony was originally used in Greek tragedy-the audiences had suspicions of what was bound to happen but the character was unaware. ... Oedipus the King is a very tragic story. Oedipus is a high and mighty king with no worries what so ever. ... Years ago King Laïos was killed, now Oedipus is trying to find his murderer. ... In Oedipus the King, the king is blind and is fooled by all surrounding him. ...

  • Word Count: 1047
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

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