Appearance of Tragedy in Sophocles' Oedipus the King
             There are many contributions in the history of literature that portray a form of tragedy to some extent. A great example of tragedy is shown in Sophocles' Oedipus the King. There are various examples in this play that make it easily identified as a classic tragedy. Because of the presence of specific tragic elements, characteristics of the protagonist, and ultimately the protagonist's downfall, this work of drama easily demonstrates the usage of tragedy.
             The Choragos, whom were also known as the prophets, displayed the element of supernatural or divine power shown in Oedipus Rex. They were the group that informed Oedipus of the fact that he would soon murder his father and marry his mother. Oedipus eventually commits both of these actions, yet he wasn't even aware that they were inflicted upon his own flesh and blood until he was informed. When he was stopped and didn't know specifically who was on board the horse carriage at the crossroad, he killed his father. Oedipus moves on to conquer the evil Sphinx's riddle in the town of Thebes, where his father had originally ruled. This action awarded Oedipus with the town peoples' worship and the interest of his mother, whom he would soon marry and bear children with. The Choragos knew Oedipus' fate because they possessed contact with Apollo, who cursed Oedipus in the beginning.
             Another element that contributes features of a tragedy in the given work is Oedipus' self-discovery process. Because of the time that it took him to realize who he really was and who his real parents were, it was already too late. The events of which the prophets claimed would happen to Oedipus had already taken place and there was no way of reversing it.
             Oedipus possesses rather snobby characteristics in the play. He has a self-centered view that everything should go the way he desires or it will not go ...