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. In it, Aristotle defines the three key elements that consist of the tragic plot ("muthos"): the reversal of the situation, the recognition ("agnorisis"), and the scene of suffering ("pathos"). .
The story of Oedipus begins with Laius, King of Thebes, who learns from the oracle that his son will kill him and marry his wife Jocasta. When a son is finally born, the king orders his infant to be abandoned, with its feet pierced, on a mountaintop. A shepherd rescues the child, Oedipus, and gives him to his king, Polybus, King of Corinth. As Oedipus grows up, he learns from an oracle that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Fearing he might kill Polybus, Oedipus sets out towards Thebes where he runs into a man, Laius, whom he kills due to a quarrel, ignorant of the fact that Laius is his father. Continuing on his way he then passes a riddling sphinx and guesses the answer, lifting a curse on Thebes, allowing Oedipus to become King, win the hand of Jocasta, Queen of Thebes and have 4 children: Eteocles, Polynice, Antigone, and Ismene. .
The reader discovers the first element of Aristotle's definition at the height of Oedipus" reign as King. An excellent ruler, Oedipus assures the citizens of Thebes when they beg him to do something about the plague that has killed many as well as the crops by stating that he has sent his brother-in-law, Creon to the Oracle at Delphi to solve their problem. He then proceeds to assert his achievements with extreme pride to illustrate to the citizens that order will be restored. The reversal of the situation occurs when Creon returns with a message stating the plague will end when the murderer, who is within the city, of Laius, former king of Thebes, is caught and banned.
