97)." Aristotle's definition of tragedy seems to be a blueprint for how tragedies are and using Oedipus Tyrannus as an example we will try to prove this theory. .
Within Aristotle's definition of tragedy and what he believed it was, we find the elements that he believes make up a tragedy- those are the plot, the characters, thought, diction, melody and the spectacle. These elements coupled with Aristotle's Poetics are apparently what make up a tragedy so these will be applied to Oedipus Tyrannus to see if it exemplifies or deviates from Aristotle's definition of tragedy. .
Oedipus Tyrannus is considered by many to be your typical tragedy, Oedipus is the King and his land is suffering from plagues. He believes that to save his land he must bring to justice that murderer of the previous King- unbeknown to him- he killed the king who was also his father and he then married his mother. When he finds this out he gouges out his own eyes his mothers broach and then leaves. Oedipus is your classic tragic hero. At the start of the play he is portrayed as a heroic individual, "it presents Oedipus as the great king, the solo hope of Thebes, himself so remote from the cause of the play, (Greek Tragedy -pg. 177), and this is to create a sense of tragedy when the hero eventually falls, "it builds up the tragedy when the character of Oedipus, in preparation for the end (Greek Tragedy -, pg. 177)." Aristotle believed the characters within tragedies , especially the hero, should be consistent and believable, they should act appropriately for their gender and station in life, he also believed that each character, no matter who they were should be good in some way. Aristotle's theory involving characters seems to be exemplified perfectly within Oedipus Tyrannus. Due to the limited number of characters and the single setting, a greater appreciation and understanding of each character is achieved.