Introduction
The exposition opens with the current events in Thebes, which is one of the core elements of the narrative that is given to the audience. The city of Thebes is troubled by a plague that results in the death of many plants, which are used to feed the population and children that are still in the wombs of their mothers (Sophocles 4). Overall, it is made clear to the audience that the plague is a severe threat to the existence of Thebes. At the same time, the people of Thebes plead with King Oedipus, the central character, to resolve the plague. The audience learns more about the protagonist, which also may allow them to develop empathy for him as he is sympathetic to the urge of the people in Thebes. In one of the earlier scenes, Oedipus expresses gratitude to the people of Thebes. As such, the issue is at the core of the narrative, and a sympathetic character is established and introduced to the audience in the exposition. The exposition ends as the solution to the plague is revealed, and Oedipus is urged to act.
Rising Action
In the first event of the rising action, the audience learns of the Delphic Oracle and the factors that will set the narrative into motion. The Delphic Oracle proposes that the plague may be ended in the case that the killer of the previous king, King Laius, is banished from Thebes. Teiresias, a blind prophet, reveals the identity of Laius’s killer to the king to be King Oedipus himself. Oedipus is angered and decides to discover who the killer is. The second rising action event is the conflict between Oedipus and Teiresias, as the king suspects and accuses the prophet of being in a conspiracy with Creon to remove Oedipus as King of Thebes. It reveals a greater struggle within Oedipus, man versus himself, as he struggles with his pride and fate.
Climax
The climax of the narrative occurs when a messenger from Corinth arrives to reveal the true identity of Oedipus. His parentage is also revealed, and the prediction is illustrated to have unfolded with Oedipus fulfilling the prophecy. These revelations lead to a tragic outcome for Oedipus. He blinds himself while Jocasta, his mother, kills herself. The reason this scene is likely the climax of the story is that while it is tragic, it creates the foundation for the resolution of the story and places the characters in their most considerable hardship of the narrative. The scene is also responsible for revealing the truth regarding the internal struggles of the characters, such as the fact that Oedipus is himself to be blamed for the plague in Thebes.
Conclusion
The use of limited time within a narrative is usually expressed through the need to accomplish certain goals before an event can occur or before a threat is too significant to stop. Within the story centered on Oedipus, the play occurs likely throughout a single day. It is possible that all the events can be interpreted to occur within hours of each other. As such, the limitation of time is used to increase the tension by creating suspension correlating with challenges to achieve a goal that requires urgent intervention. Dramatic revelations all follow each other closely, such as the revelation of the need to find the murderer, Oedipus’ conflict with the prophet, the killing of Laius and the marrying of Jocasta, and the revelation of Oedipus’s true identity. This particular sequence of dramatic revelation serves to keep tensions high, suspenseful, and surprising to the audience.
Work Cited
Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. University of Oxford, 1911.