A Deep Dive into Sophocles' Oedipus Rex: Plot, Character & Irony

This essay provides an analysis of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, highlighting its significance as an Aristotelian tragedy. It discusses the six elements of tragedy as demonstrated in the play, including plot, characterization, thought, diction, melody, and spectacle. The protagonist, Oedipus, is examined in terms of his heroic nature and tragic flaw, which leads to dramatic irony and his eventual downfall. The essay also explores the dramatic purpose of the play, focusing on the pervasive irony of Oedipus searching for a murderer who turns out to be himself. Furthermore, it identifies Oedipus as the protagonist and Jocasta as the antagonist, noting the central conflict arising from Tiresias's revelation and Oedipus's initial disbelief. The analysis emphasizes the play's intense plot, gripping character dynamics, and effective use of dramatic irony.

Running head: THEATER – OEDIPUS REX
THEATER – OEDIPUS REX
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1THEATER – OEDIPUS REX
Table of Contents
Question 1............................................................................................................................2
Question 2............................................................................................................................2
Question 3............................................................................................................................3
Question 4............................................................................................................................3
References............................................................................................................................4

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Question 1
The play in discussion, Oedipus Rex is one of those dramas that are considered to be one
of the best tragedies that have been composed by Sophocles. The tragedy is considered to be one
of the best tragedies and demonstrates the six elements of the tragedy in one of the best possible
manner. The plot of the story is woven in a very intense and gripping manner and revolve
majorly actions of Oedipus. The plot demonstrates a proper incentive moment, a climax and a
resolution. The characterization of the play also demonstrates the qualities of the Aristotelian
tragedy (Wilson, 2018). The protagonist of the story, Oedipus is observed to have brought on his
own downfall without the knowledge of the deed being done. The thought is the third element of
drama and is also found to be aptly present within the play Oedipus Rex. The fourth element that
is well described within the drama is the diction that is used in the drama. In the drama in
discussion, Oedipus Rex, the protagonist is found to have utilized the diction in a very apt
manner. The protagonist is observed to be blessed with the gift of perception and is observed to
mock Teiresias for the lack of the perception. The fifth element of drama, melody is also well
discussed in the play. The chorus plays the role of the commoners and communicates the details
that cannot be disclosed with the help if the other characters in the play (Meineck, 2017). The
play is also observed to be demonstrating the spectacle, the sixth element, in a very prominent
manner. The feature of the dramatic irony within the play is known to be portrayed in a vivid
manner which helped in the development of the involvement of the audience within the play as
well.
Question 2
Oedipus Rex is one of the famous tragedies that was composed in the history of
literature. The play is known to be one of the best examples of an Aristotelian tragedy with a

3THEATER – OEDIPUS REX
perfect depiction of all the elements of the tragedy as was discussed by the celebrated Greek
thinker Aristotle. The plot of the story is woven in a very intense and gripping manner and
revolve majorly actions of Oedipus. The plot demonstrates a proper incentive moment, a climax
and a resolution. Thus, the drama might be termed as a perfect example of the Aristotelian
tragedy (Sophocles, 1982). The play demonstrates the heroic nature of the protagonist all
throughout the play yet is capable of highlighting the tragic flaw of the protagonist which in turn
is useful in the creation of the dramatic irony as well as the downfall of the tragic hero, in this
case, the protagonist of the play, Oedipus.
Question 3
The dramatic purpose that is served by the play, Oedipus Rex, is the fact that the drama
depicts a great irony that is all-persuasive in nature. The protagonist is observed to be searching
for the murdered all through the play. However, ironically, the play reveals the fact that murderer
that the protagonist, Oedipus has been searching for is none other than he himself (Akhter,
Muhammad & Naz, 2015). This leads to the conditions wherein the protagonist leaves in order to
save the kingdom.
Question 4
The protagonist of the play Oedipus Rex is Oedipus, the King (Sophocles, 1982). The
play revolves around the downfall of the protagonist, Oedipus, the King.
The antagonist of the play Oedipus Rex is Jocasta. She is observed to have been
dissuading the protagonist, Oedipus from his mission of the resolution of the mystery behind the
death of Laius (Sophocles, 1982).

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The major conflict of the play is observed during the time when Tiresias informs Oedipus
that Oedipus himself is responsible for the plague in the kingdom and Oedipus refuses to believe
him (Sophocles, 1982).

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References
Akhter, J., Muhammad, K., & Naz, N. (2015). Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex: A Deconstructive
Study. Advances in Language and Literary Studies, 6(5), 9-15.
Meineck, P. (2017). Theatrocracy: Greek drama, cognition, and the imperative for theatre.
Routledge.
Sophocles, E. A. (1982). Oedipus rex. Cambridge University Press.
Wilson, J. R. (2018). The Figure of Stigma in Shakespeare’s Drama. Genre: Forms of Discourse
and Culture, 51(3), 237-266.