"
Oedipus Rex" is an early Greek tragedy.
The most well-known version of the Oedipus myth comes from Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex," which tells of the fall of King Oedipus due to adultery and murder. In Aristostle's "Poetics," the famous and early text of literary analysis, Aristotle called Oedipus Rex a perfect tragedy. The Oedipus story contains many elements that make it a classic example of a tragedy.
Plot
The tragedy, according to Aristotle, must have a clear structure of inciting moment, moment that starts the action; climax; and resolution. Within this structure, the resolution must address problems that created the inciting incident, and the climax must cause the action that follows. Aristotle also thought that a tragic play must be self-contained and that the plot must not be determined by outside elements such as coincidence.
Character
The primary characteristic of a tragedy is the presence of a tragic hero. The tragic hero must have a very high position of great renown and responsibility. The hero must fall from that position, and that fall must come from a tragic flaw: a negative characteristic of the individual's personality. The flaw can also be considered a mistake, something that the individual could not have known was the wrong decision. In "Oedipus Rex," Oedipus kills his father, while not knowing that the man is his father, and also unknowingly marries his mother, Jocasta. These acts cause the entire plot to unfold.
Unity of Time, Place and Action
Aristotle's "Poetics," one of the first texts that outlined characteristics of different literary genres, emphasized the importance of the unity of time, place and action in a tragedy. This meant that the play must take place in one day, in one place and with focus on only one major plot point. "Oedipus Rex" fits this guideline, as the action unfolds in one day and remains in one main location.
Catharsis
A major element of the tragedy is the catharsis, which is a release -- literally, "purging" -- of the pain, fear and other emotions brought up during the climax of the play. This often involves heroes realizing their own culpability in the unfolding of tragic events and acknowledging responsibility. It is still debated exactly what Aristotle meant by this term.
Reversal, Recognition and Suffering
Aristotle emphasized the importance of reversal, recognition and suffering. Reversal is when events seem to be going in one direction, then reveal themselves to be otherwise. Recognition comes when a character understands his true relationship to another character or an event. It usually involves a secret being revealed or explained. The suffering section, often in the third act, involves a terrible or painful result of the previous events. In "Oedipus Rex," these plot elements are all clearly present.
