Story, Plot and Themes in Sophocle's Oedipus Rex Essay Example
Plan
INTRODUCTION
I- STORY OUTLINE
II- PLOT OF OEDIPUS REX
III- THEMES IN OEDIPUS REX
CONCLUSION
Bibliography
INTRODUCTION
Sophocles introduced several important innovations to the stage like creating powerfully motivated characters who today still fascinate the audience with their psychological depth. Oedipus Rex is a tragic play showing an unmerited misfortune on the part of the protagonist Oedipus. Tragedy as Aristotle puts it, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play: in the form of action not of narrative through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions. Sophocles’ play is set in Athens and around 429 B.C and it puts forth clearly the idea of Greek mythology having as characteristic the unavoidability of a prophecy: the more a character tries to avert a prophecy, the more he moves towards the fulfillment of the prophecy. This work aims at looking at the story outline, the plot structure and the themes contained in Oedipus Rex.
STORY OUTLINE
The story line of a literary work refers to the chronological development of the events.
The story in Oedipus Rex begins where Laius the king of Thebes, goes to Delphi with the intention to seek Apollo’s advice as to having a child. He learns from Apollo that he will have a child and this child will kill him and marry his wife Jocasta. At the birth of Oedipus, his parents Laius and Jocasta plan to kill the young Oedipus. The child is thus given to the royal shepherd to be left to die at mount Cithaeron where a Corinthian shepherd rescues him and gives him to the childless king Polybus and queen Merope. He grows up in this Corinthian royal court as a prince, until he is told
INTRODUCTION
I- STORY OUTLINE
II- PLOT OF OEDIPUS REX
III- THEMES IN OEDIPUS REX
CONCLUSION
Bibliography
INTRODUCTION
Sophocles introduced several important innovations to the stage like creating powerfully motivated characters who today still fascinate the audience with their psychological depth. Oedipus Rex is a tragic play showing an unmerited misfortune on the part of the protagonist Oedipus. Tragedy as Aristotle puts it, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play: in the form of action not of narrative through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions. Sophocles’ play is set in Athens and around 429 B.C and it puts forth clearly the idea of Greek mythology having as characteristic the unavoidability of a prophecy: the more a character tries to avert a prophecy, the more he moves towards the fulfillment of the prophecy. This work aims at looking at the story outline, the plot structure and the themes contained in Oedipus Rex.
STORY OUTLINE
The story line of a literary work refers to the chronological development of the events.
The story in Oedipus Rex begins where Laius the king of Thebes, goes to Delphi with the intention to seek Apollo’s advice as to having a child. He learns from Apollo that he will have a child and this child will kill him and marry his wife Jocasta. At the birth of Oedipus, his parents Laius and Jocasta plan to kill the young Oedipus. The child is thus given to the royal shepherd to be left to die at mount Cithaeron where a Corinthian shepherd rescues him and gives him to the childless king Polybus and queen Merope. He grows up in this Corinthian royal court as a prince, until he is told