Set in the city of Thebes, Oedipus Rex begins with the cries and pains of citizens victimized by a plague. ... In addition to promptly summarizing the play, Marjorie discusses Aristotle embeds his interpretations and views into what he might arguably consider his "perfect tragedy", Oedipus Rex. ... This is due to the fact that Oedipus is no truly evil man but events in his life and his character together lead to him to his downfall. ... All in all, tragic heroism is a major theme and factor in the play, Oedipus Rex, according to Aristotle's definition of tragedy. ... In, Oedipus Rex as ...

• Word Count: 1098
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Oedipus Rex follows the clear nature of a tragedy, in that it encompasses the common conventions of a Greek Tragedy, with ones life being controlled by fate and the gods. ... Oedipus is seen as a tragic hero in the play, a principal character, in a position of social importance being the King of Thebes. ... In Oedipus Rex, it is not so much a hamartia that leads to his downfall, but more the role played by fate and destiny. ... The tragedy of Oedipus Rex is conveyed to the audience through several features common in Greek tragedies. Fate and destiny through the power and impact of god on man...

• Word Count: 1270
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Sophocles, a Greek playwright, wrote the tragedy Oedipus Rex and it is now considered the epitome of all tragedies. ... Throughout Oedipus Rex, Sophocles' use of verbal and dramatic irony sustains suspense because it heightens the tragic feeling that the resolution exudes and to get the audience's attention at every new revelation after another. ... Oedipus, who is capable of seeing, is blinded by the illusion of his own innocence. Oedipus then forces Tiresias to voice what he knows, but when Tiresias hints at incestuous relationships and Oedipus being the murderer, Oedipus banishe...

• Word Count: 728
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

A tragedy is a drama in which a major character undergoes a loss in order to gain a new perspective. In Sophocles" Oedipus Rex, the reader sees the epitome of Aristotle's tragedy described in Poetics, the first section of his major critical work. ... A shepherd rescues the child, Oedipus, and gives him to his king, Polybus, King of Corinth. ... Through Oedipus" determination to seek the murderer, the shepherd who "rescued" Oedipus the baby comes forth, revealing his story, which leads to the downfall of Oedipus. ... In Sophocles" Oedipus Rex, Oedipus fulfills all the three requirements...

• Word Count: 696
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Is this true of Oedipus? In the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, the main character Oedipus is seen to follow his prophesized fate, which ends in his downfall. ... Oedipus has great difficulty in believing the words of others who dispute any set ideas or beliefs he has in his mind. ... Despite Jocasta having already pieced together the tragic events which had occurred Oedipus sticks to his ideas to the very end, his pride guiding his path. Oedipus manipulates his fate unwillingly to conform to that of the oracles he is so desperately trying to avoid. ...

• Word Count: 859
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The character of Creon is presented in direct opposition with the character of Antigone, but it would be premature to pass immediate judgment on Creon and call him a villain. ... It is commonly assumed that the three works that chronicle the curse of Oedipus were intended as a trilogy, but although Antigone follows Oedipus Rex chronologically, it was written earlier. When comparing the character of Creon, as presented in Antigone, with the character as presented in Oedipus Rex, the differences in characterization are remarkably apparent. In Oedipus Rex, Creon is portrayed as a benevolent figur...

• Word Count: 1647
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

It made the transitions between scenes, giving actors the chance to enter and leave the playing area, and even announced what characters those actors portrayed. ... In Greek tragedy the tragic situation, in which the characters find themselves, is always a situation of utmost conflict. Studying the plots of a number of Greek tragedies, we find variations of two basic tragic situations: either the fatal situation is brought about by the man's miscalculation of reality or the characters find themselves between two conflicting principles and are confronted with a choice, the results of which...

• Word Count: 1396
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

As Shakespeare's most philosophical character, Hamlet is used as a medium to explore the fundamental questions which the Elizabethan audience and the modern day audience continue to ponder. ... The two characters are further challenged by the Christian edict of "thou shall not kill", but also by the familial piety and duty that was expected at the time. ... As Sigmund Freud has stated, its greatness rivals that of Oedipus Rex and The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky as it is a moral story about patricide, while also acting as a psychological understanding of humanity. ...

• Word Count: 1105
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate