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By defination,the beginnig is that which does not presuppose anything else to have gone before it. Although Sophocles' play focuses attention only on the last day of Oedipus' long rule over Thebes, we do not feel the need of any information about what has gone before, when we read the prologue of the play. In fact earlier events are related by Jocasta and Oedipus in the liter part of the play. The middle is that which is necessary and logical sequence of the beginning. The first episode of "Oedipus Rex" is a logical and necessary development of the prologue. In the prologue, we learn of the basic situation, which is the problem of the terrible plague in Thebes for which the people expect king Oedipus to find a remedy.
The prologue also tells us about the directions of the Oracle of Delphi about the way in which the plague can be brought to an end. Immediately after the entry of the Chorus, Oedipus makes a proclamation before the gathered Thebans about the punishment to be given to the murderer of Laius,on whom he pronounces a curse also.
"I pray that that man's life be consumed in evil and wretchness.
As for me, this curse applies no less" The first episode of the play is logically connected with what has gone before, for it consist of the king's meeting with Teiresias. …show more content…
The subject of this meeting is the message of the Oracle.Oedipus wishes to know how he can identify the murderer of Laius so that he may be banished from the Thebes as instructed by Teiresias.Similarly,every other episode is a logical and necessary sequence of what has gone before it in the play. The ending of the play satisfies all curiosity. It marks the completion of Oedipus' search for the murderer of Laius.At the same time it also provides the answer to Oedipus’ question about the identity of his parents. Also Aristotle's idea of a complex plot is found in the play Oedipus Rex. Complex plots have recognitions and reversals. A reversal is a change from of a situation to the opposite. In the play Oedipus Rex, consider how the shepherd who comes to free Oedipus about his fear of parentage actually does the opposite. Suffering which is also a part of an Aristotelian tragedy is show in how Oedipus ends up miserable in the end as a poor blind man. Secondly, according to Aristotle the tragic hero must be a person of noble birth and prosperity whose misfortune results, not from depravity or vice but from some hamartia.The last word has been translated as error of judgment by most critics as tragic flaw by some. Oedipus is clearly the intermediate kind of person stipulated by Aristotle, and he is in enjoyment of great happiness and prosperity at the commencement of the play.However,it is difficult to say that his misfortune befalls him because of some flaw in his character, or some error of judgement committed by him. There is no doubt that his character has several flaws and that he does commit some error of judgement,but the question is whether these errors are the cause of his tragedy. Oedipus is no doubt rash.impatient,irritable and passionate. He is very proud of his intelligence and believes that he can find the answer to every problem. At more than one place he is also guilty of impious words. His treatment of Creon is far from fair,and he is unnecessarily harsh towards Teiresias. Yet,if we take his tragedy to be the basic actions of incest and parricide,then these flaws and errors are quite irrelevent.On the other hand,it is Oedipus who proclaims a severe punishment for the murderer of Laius and also says that he will award the punishment even to himself if he is guilty person.It is by his words that Teiresias is angered and prophesies that Oedipus himself will turn out to be the murderer of his father and the husband of his mother.Moreover,Oedipus provokes him further by making fun of him and his blindness and this leads Teiresias to predict that Oedipus also will become blind and will leave the city like a helpless beggar.Although,the predictions do not bring about the actions mentioned in them, yet they add to Oedipus' suffering and humiliation. Or one may say that Oedipus commits the fundamental mistake of thinking
The prologue also tells us about the directions of the Oracle of Delphi about the way in which the plague can be brought to an end. Immediately after the entry of the Chorus, Oedipus makes a proclamation before the gathered Thebans about the punishment to be given to the murderer of Laius,on whom he pronounces a curse also.
"I pray that that man's life be consumed in evil and wretchness.
As for me, this curse applies no less" The first episode of the play is logically connected with what has gone before, for it consist of the king's meeting with Teiresias. …show more content…
The subject of this meeting is the message of the Oracle.Oedipus wishes to know how he can identify the murderer of Laius so that he may be banished from the Thebes as instructed by Teiresias.Similarly,every other episode is a logical and necessary sequence of what has gone before it in the play. The ending of the play satisfies all curiosity. It marks the completion of Oedipus' search for the murderer of Laius.At the same time it also provides the answer to Oedipus’ question about the identity of his parents. Also Aristotle's idea of a complex plot is found in the play Oedipus Rex. Complex plots have recognitions and reversals. A reversal is a change from of a situation to the opposite. In the play Oedipus Rex, consider how the shepherd who comes to free Oedipus about his fear of parentage actually does the opposite. Suffering which is also a part of an Aristotelian tragedy is show in how Oedipus ends up miserable in the end as a poor blind man. Secondly, according to Aristotle the tragic hero must be a person of noble birth and prosperity whose misfortune results, not from depravity or vice but from some hamartia.The last word has been translated as error of judgment by most critics as tragic flaw by some. Oedipus is clearly the intermediate kind of person stipulated by Aristotle, and he is in enjoyment of great happiness and prosperity at the commencement of the play.However,it is difficult to say that his misfortune befalls him because of some flaw in his character, or some error of judgement committed by him. There is no doubt that his character has several flaws and that he does commit some error of judgement,but the question is whether these errors are the cause of his tragedy. Oedipus is no doubt rash.impatient,irritable and passionate. He is very proud of his intelligence and believes that he can find the answer to every problem. At more than one place he is also guilty of impious words. His treatment of Creon is far from fair,and he is unnecessarily harsh towards Teiresias. Yet,if we take his tragedy to be the basic actions of incest and parricide,then these flaws and errors are quite irrelevent.On the other hand,it is Oedipus who proclaims a severe punishment for the murderer of Laius and also says that he will award the punishment even to himself if he is guilty person.It is by his words that Teiresias is angered and prophesies that Oedipus himself will turn out to be the murderer of his father and the husband of his mother.Moreover,Oedipus provokes him further by making fun of him and his blindness and this leads Teiresias to predict that Oedipus also will become blind and will leave the city like a helpless beggar.Although,the predictions do not bring about the actions mentioned in them, yet they add to Oedipus' suffering and humiliation. Or one may say that Oedipus commits the fundamental mistake of thinking