💖Oedipus Rex as a Tragedy
Oedipus Rex is one of greatest literary creations ever produced by man. The greatness and uniqueness of the play is attributed mainly to its perfection as a tragedy. Viewed from Aristotelian point of view, we find the play perfectly compatible with standards set by Aristotle. Even Oedipus Rex was the source of inspiration for Aristotle to ordain the principal rules or the qualities of a perfect tragedy. Before discussing Oedipus Rex as a tragedy, we should recall how Aristotle defined tragedy and its ingredients.According to Aristotle:-
“Tragedy is an imitation of an action, serious, complete and of certain magnitude, in a language beautified in different parts with different kinds of embellishments, through action and not narration and through scenes of pity and fear bringing about the Catharsis of these emotions”
Aristotle points out six essential elements of a tragedy which are Plot, Tragic hero, Thought, Diction, Chorus, Spectacle.
Let us see how Oedipus Rex possesses all the ingredients and excellences of a perfect tragedy determined by Aristotle. The first and most essential element of a tragedy is its plot which can be called the soul of tragedy. The plot of Oedipus Rex is perhaps the best among all dramatic creations. Its excellences are perfectly in accordance with Aristotelian standards. The salient features of the plot of Oedipus Rex are as follows.
Unity and Coherence:-
According to Aristotle the greatest feature of a good plot is its unity. We find that the entire plot of Oedipus Rex is a perfect and coherent sequence of separate incidents which are logically inter-connected and which cannot be separated from each other.
Basic function of Tragedy:-
Another feature of a good plot is its capacity to arouse the feelings of pity and fear, and to bring about the catharsis of these emotions. The plot of Oedipus Rex fulfills this basic demand of a tragedy. Various happenings in the play do arouse the feelings of pity and fear among the audience. The misery of Thebans afflicted with deathly sickness, clash between Oedipus and Teiresias, the allegations of Oedipus and Creon for each other, the horrible discovery of truth about Oedipus, the acts of Jocaste’s suicide and gouging of Oedipus’ eyes, the plight of Oedipus’ children, all is so fearsome and pitiable. Most importantly pity is aroused chiefly through the tragic fate of Oedipus and fear is aroused through the sense of uncertainty which is ever hovering over human life.
Dramatic irony:-
The plot of the play is logical and effective. It is also complex and replete with dramatic irony. This dramatic irony is created through dialogues and situations. Oedipus’ promise to punish and banish the killer, the quarrel between Oedipus and Teiresias, Jocaste’s verdict about oracles, Oedipus’s effort to avoid the prophecy about him, all this and much more is fraught with dramatic irony.
Three unities:-
The plot of Oedipus Rex observes the three unities of action, place and time. We see that the plot has unity of action as the entire action centres round the one theme, the quest and inquiry of the murder of Laius. Similarly there is unity of place as the entire action takes place at one place, the royal palace and it occurs within 24 hours which is unity of time.
The second most important element of tragedy is tragic hero. According to Aristotle a tragic hero must be neither a villain nor saint.
He should be rather a man ordinary weaknesses and virtues, occupying a position of eminence and falling into ruin from that position not because of deliberate wickedness, but because of some error of judgement. If we examine Oedipus on these lines we find him a perfect example of a tragic hero. He is a man of royal birth, enthroned on seat of eminence. He is neither an angel nor a devil rather a blend of weaknesses and virtues. On one side he is famed as the man of all men, the wisest, the noblest, a caring king, a respecting husband and a loving father. On the other hand he is hot tempered, rude, stubborn, over confident, proud of his genius, and blasphemous. He falls into ruin from the position of prosperity and prominence not due to any wicked deed rather due to the sins committed in ignorance. So Oedipus is a true tragic hero who is more sinned against than sinning.
Another essentiality of a tragedy is the song in form of the Chorus. The role of chorus is a vital part of Greek drama. In Oedipus Rex the role of chorus is very vital. It is part of dramatis personae. Choral Odes reflect the pathos and passion of changing situations in the play. The choragus speaks as a viewer, a commentator, an intervener and a coordinator.
Another essentiality of a tragedy which Oedipus Rex possesses is thought. The play Oedipus Rex accentuates the sublime thought which is reflection of sublime intellectual ability of its author. The questions which are raised throughout the play are perhaps too serious and sublime to be ever answered. These questions pertain human status in the world, the relation between God and man, the role of fate and character in shaping out human lot and such other issues.
Finally the cruel role of fate in the tragedy of the hero makes the tragedy poignant and pinching. Following the Greek tradition Sophocles gives fate most predominant role in Oedipus Rex. On the whole the tragedy of Oedipus is the tragedy of fate. This makes the play one of the greatest tragedies.
We can wind up this discussion with the conclusion that Oedipus Rex is a perfect example of a perfect tragedy. No other play from the comity of great plays observes the rules of a tragedy more precisely and perfectly. It possesses all the essentialities and excellences that are mentioned by Aristotle in his “Poetics”. It presents to us a terrible affirmation of man’s subordinate position in the universe and at the same time a heroic vision of man’s victory in defeat. Oedipus Rex has no parallel to its perfect plot and pathos, the suffering of the protagonist, arousal and catharsis of emotions of pity and fear, dramatic irony, dialogue and diction.💖
