Brief Summary
Sophocles wrote the tragic drama, Oedipus Rex, around 429 B.C. when it was first presented. It depicts the story of Oedipus, king of Thebes, who is said to have slain his father and married his mother by accident due to a prophecy made to Laius, the previous ruler of Thebes. Laius received the prophecy from the prophetic oracle Creon. Laius made every effort to thwart the fulfillment of the prophecy, but due to an unexpected change of events, the prediction was nonetheless realized. Laius gave the order to break Oedipus’ legs and abandon him to die in the forest after Oedipus’ birth. Following his discovery, Oedipus is seized by a shepherd and brought to the king of Corinth. The latter raises him as the prince of his realm. After Oedipus realizes he is not the king of Corinth’s son, he consults the oracle, where he is informed of the prophecy. Afterward, he flees to Thebes, where he unintentionally fulfills the prophecy.
Oedipus Rex profoundly influenced the poetry of Aristotle, who developed the theory of tragedy. Aristotle’s work has had a lasting impact on the way tragedy plays are seen even today. Due to Aristotle’s concept of tragedy, modern audiences can examine a play and form a deep relationship with the protagonist.
Oedipus Rex as an Example of Greek Tragedy
Oedipus Rex is an excellent illustration of a tragic play where the play evolves from an uncomplicated beginning to a sad climax during its run. In this scenario, the beginning of the play produces a feeling of fear, and as the tale progresses, the audience starts to feel empathy for Oedipus. It leads to the author establishing the foundation for a tragedy at the end of the play by generating tension for the audience while watching it (Sophocles 7). It is widely acknowledged that the play’s plot contributed significantly to the development of tragedies and served as the foundation for modern forms of tragedy. It is generally accepted that Oedipus’ multiple plot twists and turns ultimately result in the desired catharsis for the audience. With a solid understanding of the nature of tragedies, Aristotle’s ideas make it simpler for an audience to experience catharsis.
Aristotle’s Meaning of Catharsis and How Greek Tragedy Accomplished It
According to Aristotle, a tragedy is a severe and all-encompassing action of a specific scale. This magnitude is achieved by dread and pity, which affect emotional cleaning (Aristotle). Catharsis is the release of negative emotions, such as dread and sadness, through artistic representation. According to Aristotle, the objective of tragedy is to evoke both fear and sympathy in the audience. Thus, the fact that “he would rather suffer anything than live like that” totally describes Oedipus” struggle in Oedipus Rex and reinforces the significance of tragedy in human life (Aristotle). In this situation, the tragic hero exists between two extremes.
According to Aristotle’s definition of tragedy, a tragic hero can be any character, which maintains that a tragic hero needs neither a villain nor a virtuous person (Aristotle). The character’s misfortune is not attributable to a lack of vice; instead, it is the outcome of an error or a weakness. Therefore, the notion of catharsis is investigated by assessing the viewer’s reaction to the artwork. Closer to the end of the play, Oedipus states the following:
“Horror of darkness enfolding, resistless unspeakable
visitant sped by an ill wind in haste!
Madness and stabbing pain and memory
of evil deeds I have done!” (Sophocles 20)
These phrases allude to the release of unpleasant emotions accumulated within a person’s body due to the rigorous set of events that have led Oedipus to realize what he had done to his parents. According to Aristotle, the storyline is one of the most critical factors in determining whether a play is tragic or not. The term “catharsis,” within the context of Oedipus Rex, refers to releasing unpleasant emotions such as fear and pity while recognizing the tragedy that unfolds in one’s life due to one prophecy turning into reality inadvertently.
Elements Within a Tragedy Ensuring Catharsis Occurs Within the Audience
According to Aristotle’s definition of tragedy, for a play to be classified as a tragedy, the audience must witness all three critical events: a tragic hero, a tragic ending, and a tragic hero’s death. In order to classify a play as tragic, the audience must emotionally connect with the tragic hero (Sophocles 11). In addition, for a play to be considered tragic, the audience must believe that the protagonist will die early. In conclusion, the viewer should feel pity for the protagonist owing to the upcoming tragic events. Aristotle saw Oedipus Rex as a superb example of a tragic tragedy because it meets all three conditions. As Oedipus is a morally good character, many Oedipus Rex viewers form an emotional connection with him.
The plot develops into a tragic predicament since Oedipus is considered a prime illustration of a typical individual going about his or her daily duties. This scenario involves the dramatic progression from peripeteia to anagnorisis, followed by a tragedy (Aristotle). As the tragic sequence of events in the play unfolds, these alterations can be tied to the progression of emotions from joy to enigma. The audience experiences a wide range of emotions in response to this performance portion. These feelings may range from anxiety as events deteriorate to compassion when the protagonist is placed in a dire situation or a calamity strikes (Aristotle). When Oedipus discovers that he is the son of Jocasta and Laius, his life changes from good fortune to misfortune, and the subsequent events evoke pity in the spectator.
Works Cited
Aristotle. “Poetics.” The Internet Classics Archive.
Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Translated by David Grene. Canvas, uploaded by Lindsey Smitherman-Brown, 2022. Web.