Greek theatre was developed out of religious needs. This proves to be an effective way to ensure that its citizens understand fate. The Greeks belief of the time is that one’s fate is predetermined at birth and cannot be altered. A tragedy is a very serious issue of great importance that focuses on one topic. Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, sets the structure for what makes a tragic hero. A tragic hero comes from nobility and rises to greatness; has a dramatic downfall secondary to his or her own hubris; recognizes his or her part in the downfall; and prompts fear and pity in the audience through his or her terrible fate (“Aristotle’s ideas About Tragedy”). Sophocles exemplifies Aristotle’s perfect tragic hero in Oedipus the King. The fate of Oedipus is to become a tragic hero.
Soon after arriving to the city of Thebes, Oedipus a great thinker, solves the riddle of the Sphinx and hence ends the Sphinx’s reign of terror on the city and is proclaimed king. He is then called the “noblest of men!” (Sophocles. Prologue. 46). A hateful plague has taken over the city and leaves it barren. The people of Thebes have come to their king, Oedipus and ask for his help. Oedipus has saved the city once before and has been raised to the status of king for his efforts. He is proud of his status and enjoys being their rescuer so, therefore, he will do what it takes to save them once again. (Cook 4). He states that “to do all that he can / to help another is man’s noblest labor” (Sophocles. Episode I. 319-320). Creon, Oedipus’s brother-in-law, has been to see a prophet who informs him that the city is polluted by the inhabitance of the murderer of King Laius and the plague will not be lifted until the perpetrator is no longer amongst t...
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...taken. He has lived up to the prophecy that has been handed down to him at birth. Oedipus begs to be exiled, but in the end he walks back into the palace.
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Sophocles. Oedipus the King. Trans. Robert Fagles. The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. Ed. Maynard Mack et al. 6th ed. Vol. 1. New York: Norton, 1992.
Thesis: The completion and substance of Oedipus Rex allows Oedipus to live grief-stricken throughout his successful search for justice.
Dodds, E. R. "On Misunderstanding the Oedipus Rex." Twentieth Century Interpretations of Oedipus Rex: A Collection of Critical Essays.
Oedipus’ baneful traits of naiveté, arrogance, and curiosity blend with one another in Oedipus Rex to comprise his horrible, inevitable fate. With the traits given to him, Oedipus is destined to have the fate he receives, but what would become of him if he is not arrogant? What if he was not curious or naïve? Would Oedipus still finish with his eyes gouged out and his subjects scorning his name? Even the author himself, Sophocles, may not know if the tragic hero could ever free himself of his inescapable web of his fate.
Dodds, E.R. "On Misunderstanding the Oedipus Rex." Greece & Rome, Second Series 13.1 (1996): 37-49. Jstor. Muntz Lib., Tyler, TX. 21 Mar. 2009.
“Sophocles” In Literature of the Western World, edited by Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. NewYork: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1984.
After Oedipus becomes king of Thebes, the people of Thebes become plagued. Oedipus’ feels responsible for saving the people of Thebes. Oedipus’ pride to save the city later turns to pity after he divulges the sin he has committed. His pride forces him to find the traitor who murdered Laius. He eventually finds out that he is the sinner and gouges his eyes out to prove that he is not worthy of sight.
Gioia, Dana, and X.J. Kennedy. "Oedipus the King." Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing, Compact Edition, Interactive Edition. 5th ed. New York: Pearson; Longman Publishing, 2007. 887-924. Print.
Sophocles. Oedipus Tyrannus. Norton Critical ed. Trans. Luci Berkowitz and Theodore F. Brunner. New York: Norton, 1970.
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Dodds, E.R. "On Misunderstanding the Oedipus Rex." Twentieth Century Interpretations of Oedipus Rex: A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed. Michael J. O'Brien. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice, 2005. Print.
Works Cited:.. Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1991.
According to Aristotle's theory of tragedy and his definition of the central character, Oedipus the hero of Sophocles is considered a classical model of the tragic hero. The tragic hero of a tragedy is essential element to arouse pity and fear of the audience to achieve the emotional purgation or catharathis. Therefore, this character must have some features or characteristics this state of purgation. In fact, Oedipus as a character has all the features of the tragic hero as demanded by Aristotle.
O’Brien, Micheal. “Introduction.” 20th Centruy Interpretations of Oedipus Rex. Ed. Micheal O'Brien. Englewood Cliffs, N. J.: Prentice-Hall, 1968. 8-10. Print.