Q. How is Oedipus a Tragic Hero in Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex?
Oedipus’ nobility and virtue provide his first key to success as a tragic hero. Following Aristotle, the audience must respect the tragic hero as a “larger and better” version of themselves. The dynamic nature of Oedipus’ nobility earns him this respect. First, as any Greek audience member would know, Oedipus is actually the son of Laius and Jocasta, the King and Queen of Thebes. Thus, he is a noble in the simplest sense; that is, his parents were themselves royalty. Second, Oedipus himself
believes he is the son of Polybus and Merope, the King and Queen of Corinth. Again, Oedipus attains a second kind of nobility, albeit a false one. Finally, Oedipus earns royal respect at Thebes when he solves the riddle of the Sphinx. As a gift for freeing the city, Creon gives Oedipus dominion over the city. Thus, Oedipus’ nobility derives from many and diverse sources, and the audience develops a great respect and emotional attachment to him. … (Read More)
Q. Explain the Role of Minor Characters in Oedipus Rex.
Sophocles, mainly focused on tragedy rather than any other element of a drama yet he created perfect characters in Oedipus Rex. Perhaps, he wanted to show the world that character is destiny. He has directly challenged the supremacy of immortals(gods)while portraying perfect characters in his play Oedipus Rex, who are puppets in the hands of gods. May be, he wants to show that everyone’s fate is predestined and no one can escape from it. What may be the reason behind it, one thing is clear that he wrote a perfect tragedy in shape of “Oedipus Rex” with the help of right characters, due to which, it is one of the favorite tragedies of Aristotle as evident from his book “Poetics”. … (Read More)
Q. Define Chorus and it’s Role in Oedipus Rex.
Chorus, in the theater, is a group of singers and dancers who take part in a drama and are accompanied by music. Like in Oedipus Rex, the chorus sings lyrical, poetic kinds of comments during the pauses in the dramatic plot. The group also dances and makes gestures and movements that are symbolic: their movements indicates the theme and creates the mood of the play.
The music that they sing and the music in the background and the type of mask they wear also go together with the mood and atmosphere, as the situations develop. Like in Oedipus Rex, the chorus of the classical Greek theater would consist of representative citizens of the society which the drama was supposed to represent. Through the dramatic performance, they would occupy the central circular place called orchestra. The Chorus would not only act as spectators and careful
Observers but also as, commentators of the dramatic procedure. … (Read More)
Q. Attempt a Critical Note on the Element of Destiny and Fate in the Greek plays with special reference to the play Oedipus Rex.
Oedipus Rex is a world-class masterpiece of Sophocles, who is thought of as the most classic of the three great Greek tragedians of which the other two were Aeschylus and Euripides. Written in 425 B.C. the drama is a story of a ruler brought down by his own oath, unknowingly in conflict with himself. All heroes and heroines of Sophocles are longer than life, so that they portray human condition in panoramic and vivid fashion. Oedipus is no exception. In the play Oedipus obstinately searches for truth, defies fate and ultimately meets his downfall. The play is a proof of timeless greatness of Greek tragedy. … (Read More)
