Discuss Aristotle's Conditions Covering Greek Tragedy How Are They Illustrated In Oedipus Rex.
Born: 384 BC in Stagirus, Macedonia, Greece.
Died: 322 BC in Chalcis, Euboea, Greece (1).
Aristotle believed that in order to convince an audience to postulate a drama then there should be key elements to the story. The elements are known as conditions and if a drama has enough of these conditions then the production would be true to life and a classic work of art.(2) .
These are the nine conditions :-.
1, Catharsis: The final purging of the pity and or fear that have been elicited in an audience by the dramatic action of a tragedy. According to Aristotle, catharsis is the purpose of tragedy.
2, Hubris: Excess pride or arrogance, usually leading to ruin (a serious flaw in Greek heroes); excess of pride which shows disrespect for gods and man.
3, Mimesis: The imitation of human action that is created in poetry/drama through diction, rhythm, harmony, and movement, Helps keep the drama true to life.
4, Peripateia: Reversal of the Situation this should be probable or necessary.
5, Anagoresis: A change from ignorance to knowledge. The height of the play when everything comes together.(3).
6, Hamartia: The character flaw or error of a tragic hero that leads to his downfall.
7, Irony: The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning.
8, Pathos: A quality, as of an experience or a work of art that arouses feelings of pity, sympathy, tenderness, or sorrow. The feeling, as of sympathy or pity, so aroused(4).
9, Mithos: The elaboration of a story.(5).
In the play called Oedipus The King written by Sophocles a classic Greek play writer. [Oedipus means swollen feet. The Greeks pronounced it "oy-DEEP-us". Oed- is the same root as "oedema edema" (tissue swelling; The British preserve the initial "o-), while "-pus" is feet (hence "octopus", the eight-footed animal.)(6).
Oedipus is born to parents King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes.
