Aristotle, a Greek philosopher and polymath, defines and distinguishes in the "Poetics" what he believes are the most important components and criteria of a model tragedy. Sophocles is one of the ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have managed to survive until today. His drama, Oedipus the King – also known as Oedipus Rex, fits all Aristotle's requirements for a classic tragedy. The self-centered and short-tempered Oedipus is led to a doomed end by fate because of his selfish and egocentric attitudes. In Sophocles's play, the tragic hero is led to a dead end because of his own character and personality. Aristotle believes Sophocles has written the perfect plot, and all other elements of his play fulfill the Greek philosopher's definition of a tragedy. It is through Sophocles's plot, character, language, and also the way the play was performed on stage that we can understand what tragedians in the modern age need to improve to fit all Aristotle's different criteria for a tragedy and also be known as a classic tragedy. .
In "Poetics," Aristotle writes, "Thus, tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and possessing magnitude; in embellished language, each kind of which is used separately in the different parts; in the mode of action and not narrated; and effecting through pity and fear [what we call] the catharsis of such emotions" (670). In this quote, Aristotle suggests tragedy should raise pity and fear in the audience. The events in the play must be serious in all contexts, socially, morally, and psychologically. In Sophocles's play, through a series of events, Oedipus, the tragic hero, kills his father and marries his own mother. Even after trying his best in proving the prophecy wrong, Oedipus still ends up fulfilling the forecast unintentionally.
Sophocles's drama is undoubtedly very serious as "[Thebes] is heavy with a mingled burden" (Line 3) in the beginning of the play, and Oedipus finds out he is guilty for it as he is the "murderer of the father that begot him" (Line 886).
