Sunday, June 21, 2015

How is the plot of Oedipus Rex uniquely a tragic one?

Oedipus Rex has all the important
elements of a complex tragedy and according to Aristotle, it was the most ideal play he
had ever seen.


The protagonist, Oedipus, is the perfect
tragic hero.  He is a good man and more importantly, a good king.  He fulfills the
requirement of noble birth.  His hubris aka tragic flaw is his
pride.


To be considered a complex tragedy, it must have
both a peripeteia (reversal) and an anagnorisis (recognition).  Oedipus has
both.


Finally, a great tragedy must result in a catharsis. 
This term been defined as purging or cleansing through the emotions of fear and pity. 
We fear what happens to the tragic hero because if it can happen to a person of such
high standing then what about the rest of us?  And pity because we do pity the fate of
the tragic hero.


What makes this plot unique is that what
happens to Oedipus is foretold.  The Oracle at Delphi had spoken Oedipus's fate upon his
birth and nothing anyone could do could change what was to be, not his parents sending
him out to be exposed or Oedipus's own decision to leave his "parents" once he heard his
fate.


Most tragic heroes, in a sense, have it coming
because of their actions during the fall from grace, but not Oedipus.  OK, so he killed
the old man on the narrow mountain road when he was very young and had just heard his
fate.  His pride would not let him yield and the pride of the old man would not let him
yield.  He was his father's son, alright.


Once he answered
the riddle and became king, he had proved to be a good and wise king who cared for his
subjects.  He cares so much that despite several warnings, he continues on in his quest
for the truth until it becomes obvious.  In the end, he, too, becomes a victim of
fate.

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