Appearance of Tragedy in Sophocles, Oedipus Rex

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. It is at this moment the reader feels remorse for the protagonist in the play, which is a major factor in any tragedy. 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. ge at the crossroad, he killed his father. If Oedipus could possess the people’s respect and loyalty, there is would be a greater possibility of him not going into exile.

The downfall of the main character is when it becomes known to all the characters that Oedipus did indeed kill his father and marry his mother. ” His self-centered actions led to the conclusion of the town people losing faith and respect for him. He’d transformed from being sane individual into one that’s insane. Oedipus was informed from the messenger that it was really he who killed his father and once Jocasta found out, she killed herself. He demonstrates this by saying, “Dark horror of darkness my darkness, drowning, swirling around me crashing wave on wave- unspeakable, irresistible headwind, fatal harbor! Oh again the misery, all at once, over and over, the stabbing daggers, stab of memory raking me insane”(1335). Oedipus moves on to conquer the evil Sphinx’s riddle in the town of Thebes, where his father had originally ruled.

Clearly, it is evident that any work of literature that imposes specific elements, characteristics, and a downward spiral upon one of the main characters that results in death or dysfunction, possesses traits to be recognized as a tragedy.

Oedipus possesses rather snobby characteristics in the play.