It is assumed that the higher the status of the tragic hero, the easier for the 1990's audience to identify the character's tragic flaw. ... The play Oedipus displays three elements of the cathartic moment very well. ... Oedipus: A second time that slander! ... Oedipus: Alas! ... It is evident that because of the decreases of the number of cathartic elements present from Oedipus Rex to Hamlet, the reader identification will be much weaker in the latter. ...

• Word Count: 3952
• Approx Pages: 16
• Grade Level: High School