Oedipus The King

Oedipus is the perfect unambiguous Aristotelean tragedy and the perfect form outlining Aristotle’s “Poetics”. Oedipus’s perfectness comes from that if follows the rising action, climax, and falling action known as Aristotle’s “triangle”. The play manages to meet all Aristotle’s instituted elements of a tragedy in its plot, tragedy of the hero, hamartia (tragic flaw), peripeteia (recognition), reversal of fortune, and catharsis (fear and pity). Oedipus sets and example of plays of tragedy and what embodies a true tragedy. The tragedy that permeates the play should be learned from in what became the hero’s downfall. This analysis shall expound upon the tragedy of the play and how it follows the standards set by Aristotle.

Oedipus is a play of

The audience feels pity towards Oedipus’ when he realizes the consequences his actions have placed upon his kingdom. His realization bring about feeling of shame and remorse for his actions. The point of the play that the audience feels the most form of pity towards Oedipus is when he himself acknowledges the misfortune of his fate, “Dark, dark! Dark, dark! The horror of darkness, like a shroud, Wraps me and bears me on through mist and cloud. Ah me, ah me! What spasms athwart me shoot, what pangs of agonizing memory (1313-1319)?”

The conclusion of Oedipus claims that Oedipus rose to power too quickly and too high. It is an example of pure tragedy of a hero that is full of pride and has risen high. A rise that leads to the greatest of falls due to the most tragic of ironies. The concluding Chorus outlines Oedipus’ tragic fall of what was once known as a great hero:

“Residents of our native Thebes, behold, this is Oedipus, who knew the renowned riddle, and was a most mighty man. What citizen did not gaze on his fortune with envy? See into what a stormy sea of troubles he has come! Therefore, while our eyes wait to see the final destined day, we must call no mortal happy until he has crossed life's border free from pain