Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, tells the tale of Oedipus, a tragic hero. Oedipus sets out to rid his city, Thebes, of the plague by finding the murderer of Laius. However, along the way, he finds that he was the one that killed Laius and married the widowed queen Jocasta, his mother. Because of Oedipus’ high rank, high morals, flaws, recognition, and there being reversals and a catharsis within the play, Oedipus is classified as an Aristotelian tragic hero. Because of his high status in society and his
play, Oedipus Rex is an example of a tragedy that evokes emotion by following the trials and triumphs of a tragic hero. In Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, Oedipus’ fate, hubris, and failure to acknowledge his identity led to his ultimate downfall as a tragic hero. Oedipus grew up knowing his parents to be the King Ploybus and Queen Merope of Corinth. Once learning his fate that Oedipus is to kill his father and marry his mother, Oedipus
Aristotelian Tragedy One may argue that the Greek playwright, Sophocles modeled his play Oedipus Rex on Aristotle's definition and analysis of tragedy. Since according to Aristotle's definition, a tragedy is an imitation of action that is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished artistic ornaments, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not narrative with incidents that evokes pity and fear of a persons emotions. Also
The play “Oedipus Rex” was written by an ancient Greek playwright named Sophocles. Sophocles is known for his compelling tragedies and well-rounded characters. The protagonist of Sophocles’ play “Oedipus Rex” is an honorable man however, chooses to lead a life of arrogance and pride known as hubris. This hubris is what ultimately causes Oedipus to unknowingly cause his own tragic demise. Oedipus fulfills the prerequisites set by Aristotle for a tragic hero. The events that conspire prior to the
According to Aristotle, a tragic hero is a character, usually in a play, who evokes pity and terror within other characters and the audience; tends to have a higher “moral worth” than normal characters; suffers from hamartia, or tragic flaw; exhibits hubris, or excessive pride; and comes to a realization of their mistakes over the course of the play. In the Greek plays Oedipus Rex and Antigone, both by the famous ancient Greek playwright Sophocles, the characters Oedipus, Antigone, and Creon each
The Tragic Figure of Oedipus Rex Sophocles is perhaps one of the greatest tragedians ever. Sophocles said that a man should never consider himself fortunate unless he can look back on his life and remember that life without pain. For Oedipus Rex, looking back is impossible to do without pain. This pain stems from his prideful life. Oedipus is aware that he alone is responsible for his actions. Oedipus freely chooses to pursue and accept his own life's destruction. Even though fate victimizes
with Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero, one may consider King Oedipus, from Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, as a potential example of an ideal tragic hero. Sophocles exemplifies the definition of a tragic hero in his portrayal of King Oedipus, in addition to masterfully constructing a tragedy that has lasted the ages and continues to thrive as a classic work of literature to this day. A brief review of Oedipus Rex reveals key elements when defining a tragic hero. The first is the situation, as it
appropriate outcome. Such was the case in Oedipus’s story. The great Sophoclean play, Oedipus Rex is an amazing play, and one of the first of its time to accurately portray the common tragic hero. Written in the time of ancient Greece, Sophocles perfected the use of character flaws in Greek drama with Oedipus Rex. Using Oedipus as his tragic hero, Sophocles’ plays forced the audience to experience a catharsis of emotions. Sophocles showed the play-watchers Oedipus’s life in the beginning as a “privileged, exalted
the tragic hero. Aristotle outlined what he believed were the characteristics of a tragic hero. Based on those characteristics we can examine Sophocles’ Oedipus and determine if he is representative of Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero. In this essay we will look at Aristotle’s views on Greek tragedy and the tragic hero and how Oedipus is representative of Aristotle’s views. The essay will show that Aristotle’s characteristics of a tragic hero are exemplified in the Sophocles’ Oedipus.
Oedipus' character is labyrinthine in the sense that it raises controversies; many readers and critics might look at Oedipus as a hero who is doomed to his tragic end by misfortune and fate rather than by his tragic flaws. At first blush, this looks like a drawback that is enough to render the play inappropriate for an original model of the theory of tragedy. However, as a matter of fact Sophocles' plays contribute much to the formation of the ground on which the theory of tragedy is based. Actually