answersLogoWhite

0

Yes, Aristotle [384 B.C.E.-322 B.C.E.] would consider 'Oedipus Rex' a tragedy. First, Theban King Oedipus is a hero, because he does great deeds and has great powers or strength. For example, he delivers Thebes from the beastly, bullying Sphinx. He alone knows the answer to the Sphinx's unanswerable riddle.

Second, Oedipus is noble. He's the biological son of Theban royal rulers. On both his parents' sides of the family, he descends from Cadmus, Thebes' founder and first king around 2000 B.C.E. Additionally, he's raised as the royal heir apparent by adoptive/foster royal parents.

Third, Oedipus is tripped up by tragically fatal flawswithin his own character and personality. For example, he's so proud that he thinks that he can beat the gods and escape his horrific fate. But the more he tries to flee from his fate, the closer his flight takes him to it because of his own flawed decision making. He's warned that he'll kill his father and marry his mother.

So Oedipus flees what he thinks is his hometown, and the royal couple that he believes to be his biological parents. He then goes on to kill a man old enough to be his father and marry a woman old enough to be his mother. And so the prophecy is fulfilled. An inescapable fate becomes inescapable through the hero's free will in making bad choices and decisions. What Oedipus takes to be biological parents are his adoptive/foster parents, Corinthian King Polybus and Corinthian Queen Merope. What he takes to be strangers are in fact his true parents, Theban King Laius and Theban Queen Jocasta.

Fourth, a pestilence descends upon the city of Thebes. Harvests go bad, livestock die, and more Thebans die than are born. The reason is the unsolved killing of Laius by Oedipus, who is the victim's son and subject. Oedipus needs to be purified of his unknowing but nevertheless heinous crimes. He doesn't go through ritual purification after the killing of father and sovereign. So Oedipus' pollution becomes the pollution of all Thebes.

Fifth, there's a purification of the hero and therefore of his environment. That purification comes about through the hero's death, destruction or downfall. The hero commits an offense against the gods. All offenses must be punished be they the result of deliberate intent or unknowing action. Oedipus' cleansing by being identified and punished as the killer likewise becomes the cleansing of all Thebes.

Sixth, the hero's story is told in verse. That verse doesn't have to rhyme. Socrates [496 B.C.E.-406 B.C.E.] sets his play up as lines of verse. The lines don't rhyme. But the play is clearly a work of poetry, odes and music.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Performing Arts

What command did Oedipus make about the person who murdered Laius?

Oedipus commanded that the person responsible for the murder of King Laius be found and punished. He declared that anyone with information about the murderer should come forward, promising to protect them. Oedipus also proclaimed that the murderer would face severe consequences, stating that he would be exiled from Thebes. This decree set the stage for the unfolding tragedy as Oedipus unknowingly sought his own truth.


What is oedipus rex about-?

Oedipus Rex is about King Oedipus. A plague has descended upon the city of Thebes. Oedipus makes it his mission to find the cause of this plague. At one point he accuses the prophet Tiresias of being the murderer of Laius, the king before Oedipus. However, a shepherd reveals to Oedipus that Laius's murderer was Oedipus himself. Laius and Jocasta had given Oedipus to the shepherd. While Oedipus went to see the sphinx, he murdered Laius because Laius would not give him the right of way. He solved the sphinx's riddle, traveled to the city of Thebes, and married his mother. Jocasta kills herself and Oedipus gouges his eyes out and is sent out of Thebes.


How long did Oedipus rule thebes?

Oedipus ruled Thebes for approximately 17 years. He became king after solving the riddle of the Sphinx, which saved the city from its curse. His reign ultimately ended in tragedy following the revelation of his true identity and the fulfillment of the prophecy that foretold he would kill his father and marry his mother.


What is the original prophecy given to Oedipus?

The original prophecy given to Oedipus foretold that he would kill his father and marry his mother. This dire prediction was made by the Oracle of Delphi and drove Oedipus to flee his home in an attempt to avoid fulfilling it. Unbeknownst to him, he ended up unwittingly committing the acts foretold in the prophecy, leading to his tragic downfall. The prophecy underscores themes of fate, free will, and the inevitability of destiny in Greek tragedy.


What are some causes and effects in Oedipus Rex?

This is a subject of great debate. Some argue that the arrogance of Laius and Jocasta and later of Oedipus lead to the tragedy. Others contend that the gods set this all up and Oedipus is an innocent victim. Evidence exists on both sides. Select one side and support it with passages from the text. For example, if Oedipus were not so hotheaded, he would not have killed Laius along the road. On the other hand, if the gods decreed that he would kill his father, then he was destined to kill him eventually. When Jocasta gave birth to Oedipus and Laius learned that his son would murder him, it was a done deal: nothing could stop it from happening. The gods saw to it that his life was spared by the shepherd so that he could fulfill the prophesy.

Related Questions

What would Aristotle consider a Tragedy?

the hero has to die at the end


What would Aristotle say caused the fall of Oedipus from a position of power in 'Oedipus Rex'?

of his hamartia, or tragic flaw.


Why did Aristotle consider catharsis to be so important to a tragedy?

Aristotle considered catharsis to be so important to a tragedy because it makes the protagonist seem realistic. It also allowed the audience to empathize with the characters and have an emotional stake in the actions.


Using Aristotle's terms when Oedipus falls from a position of power in the play Oedipus the King it's because?

Oh, dude, when Oedipus falls from power in "Oedipus the King," it's because of his tragic flaw, like Aristotle says. He's got this whole complex about killing his dad and marrying his mom, which is a total no-go in ancient Greece. So yeah, it's like a classic case of self-sabotage, you know?


What are the Formative elements of tragedy according to Aristotle?

According to Aristotle, the formative elements of tragedy include plot, character, diction, thought, spectacle, and song. The plot is considered the most important element, followed by character and thought. Aristotle believed that a well-structured plot with a strong beginning, middle, and end, along with well-developed characters and a balance of these elements, would create a successful tragedy.


Aristotle says that a tragedy should inspire what in the audience?

Aristotle believed that a tragedy should inspire pity and fear in the audience. These emotions would lead to catharsis, a purging of those emotions through the experience of watching the tragic events unfold on stage.


What command did Oedipus make about the person who murdered Laius?

Oedipus commanded that the person responsible for the murder of King Laius be found and punished. He declared that anyone with information about the murderer should come forward, promising to protect them. Oedipus also proclaimed that the murderer would face severe consequences, stating that he would be exiled from Thebes. This decree set the stage for the unfolding tragedy as Oedipus unknowingly sought his own truth.


What would Aristotle say about Oedipus killing his own father?

According to Artistotle [384 B.C.E.* - 322 B.C.E.], Theban King Oedipus was foredoomed to kill his father. Oedipus might have tried to avoid any course of action that could have led to murder. He especially might have tried to avoid such an interaction with individuals old enough to be his father. He also might have tried to avoid any romantic attachments with women old enough to be his mother.Additionally, the particular flaw that Aristotle would have advised Oedipus to avoid was pride. Because of pride, mortals think that they can avoid their fate. They may try to run. In actuality, they can't hide or escape from their god ordained fates and their god foredoomed deaths. But they come up with a solution to the dilemma, and stop looking over their shoulders. Aristotle would have told Oedipus never to drop his guard and always to be vigilant even if the attempt is futile.*Before the Christian Era


What is oedipus rex about-?

Oedipus Rex is about King Oedipus. A plague has descended upon the city of Thebes. Oedipus makes it his mission to find the cause of this plague. At one point he accuses the prophet Tiresias of being the murderer of Laius, the king before Oedipus. However, a shepherd reveals to Oedipus that Laius's murderer was Oedipus himself. Laius and Jocasta had given Oedipus to the shepherd. While Oedipus went to see the sphinx, he murdered Laius because Laius would not give him the right of way. He solved the sphinx's riddle, traveled to the city of Thebes, and married his mother. Jocasta kills herself and Oedipus gouges his eyes out and is sent out of Thebes.


How do you put the word tragedy into a sentence?

Tragedy is a noun in a sentence.The tragedy was unbearable.Her tragedy would scar her life forever.It would a tragedy if you left me.


How long did Oedipus rule thebes?

Oedipus ruled Thebes for approximately 17 years. He became king after solving the riddle of the Sphinx, which saved the city from its curse. His reign ultimately ended in tragedy following the revelation of his true identity and the fulfillment of the prophecy that foretold he would kill his father and marry his mother.


What is the original prophecy given to Oedipus?

The original prophecy given to Oedipus foretold that he would kill his father and marry his mother. This dire prediction was made by the Oracle of Delphi and drove Oedipus to flee his home in an attempt to avoid fulfilling it. Unbeknownst to him, he ended up unwittingly committing the acts foretold in the prophecy, leading to his tragic downfall. The prophecy underscores themes of fate, free will, and the inevitability of destiny in Greek tragedy.