Oedipus Rex the Tragedy Aristotle
Oedipus Rex the Tragedy Aristotle created elements to prove a story is a tragedy. Aristotle was a philosopher and a scientist. Aristotle wrote his definition of a tragedy twenty years after Sophocles wrote the play Oedipus Rex. The play Oedipus Rex uses these elements. Oedipus Rex uses suitable language, dramatic form, and fear and pity wording throughout the play. Oedipus Rex is a true tragedy according to Aristotle’s prescribed elements. Oedipus Rex includes appropriate and pleasurable language.
Oedipus Rex uses personification. An example is “now I remember, O Healer, your power, and wonder; will you send doom like a sudden cloud, or weave it like nightfall of the past? ” (Sophocles 210). Oedipus Rex uses words that are lyrical and the audience can go along with the chorus. Oedipus states “though fools will honor impious men, in their cities no tragic poet sings” (Sophocles 234). It is powerful because it describes Thebes as honoring Oedipus, but they do not know all of the crimes Oedipus has committed.
A quote like this makes the audience think and wonder about Oedipus and his real character. Oedipus Rex uses powerful, imaginative language to enhance the audience’s theater experience. Oedipus Rex is written in a dramatic rather than a narrative form. When watching or reading this tragedy, the audience needs to think about what the author is trying to say through the character. Everything is written in a harder more complex way. When Oedipus talks about what he will do to the murderer or to whomever is hiding the murder, he is being dramatic.
He describes everything he is going to do in a specific way. This is dramatic irony because Oedipus is the murder. An excellent quote is “listen to me, act as the crisis demands, and you shall have relief from all these evils” (Sophocles 211). This is an exceptional quote because it shows power and command. When the chorus speaks they talk dramatically so the audience can tell what Thebes is feeling. A quote from the chorus states “but no man ever brought—none can bring proof of strife between Thebe’s royal house” (Sophocles 220).
The quote stated before means Thebes is feeling confused on the whole situation. The quote brings out that no one could prove anything and no one could prove the fight or problem in the royal house. Oedipus Rex is written in dramatic form so the audience can experience everything as if they are at the actual scene. Oedipus Rex shows fear and pity throughout the play. Oedipus and Teriresias argue back and forth about the murder of Lauis. Both characters are scared and it is a stichomythia.
Stichomythia is an argument back and forth at a fast pace. Oedipus says in the play “no matter what he fears for having so long withheld it” (Sophocles 211). Oedipus fears for his daughters’ futures, because he believes his crime will cause them to remain unwed. No matter his punishment, death or exile, Oedipus knows he will not be able to ensure a secure future for them. Jocasta wants pity from everyone because she slept with her son and her son killed his father which is her ex-husband.
The audience knows that Jocasta wants pity because she commits suicide. Oedipus Rex has the elements of fear and pity which makes it a true tragedy. The audience can bring to a close from the elements of Aristotle that Oedipus Rex is a tragedy. Oedipus Rex uses proper and enjoyable language throughout the play. The words have a rhythm and flow. The tragedy is written to be acted out to enhance the emotional appeal of the character’s experiences. Oedipus Rex is a dramatic play that has become the model of a tragic drama.
