Sophocles Oedipus Rex Essay

Anne Carson’s preface to Grief Lessons: Four plays by Euripides explains that readers and viewers read and watch tragedies because it helps contain and release rage and grief. In Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, Oedipus undergoes a tragic flaw and after 2,400 years, it is still considered a classic in Greek literature. The chorus in Greek plays give advice, shows an emotional response, and their reaction is similar to the audience. As readers see in Ode IV, “But all eyes fail before time’s eye, /All actions come to justice there” (66). By the chorus representing the reader’s thoughts it provides comfort to the readers because they are not feeling alone. Reading about Oedipus, many people are upset and furious that he is so oblivious to the facts. With the chorus expressing their concern and thoughts, readers become the chorus, and feel a sense of comfort knowing that they are not alone with their thoughts. Reader’s rage is released once the chorus expresses their same concern.

There are times where people act like or wish to act like Oedipus. For example, “You are a dead man if I have to ask you again.” (63) Shows how blind Oedipus can be because if he was to listen rather than hear, he would understand his fate. If he was less harsh and more open the play would end earlier making Oedipus Rex less popular after all these years and less relevant. However, seeing a person act completely foolish without seeing the consequences, make it more applicable to people. Readers are forced to put themselves into Oedipus’s shoe and feel comfortable that they are not like him and most likely have a better life than him. Observing an actor or reading about Oedipus from a third person point of view may give some readers that same perspective, they may need in order to accept themselves and the situation. Acceptance is the last stage of grief, and by seeing a tragic hero provides comfort to readers and