An epidemic which was devastating spreads throughout the city of Thebes, during that time Oedipus Rex is the King. Oedipus wants to know how to end the suffering of his people; therefore, he seeks the help of Teiresias, a blind prophet for answers. Teiresias tells Oedipus that the plague will end after revealing murderer of the earlier King, King Laius. Oedipus wants to be the hero, curses the killer of Laius. Teiresias predicts Oedipus as the killer of Laius. Oedipus mocks Tiresias's blindness because he does not believe in fortune-tellers. Tiresias predicts that Oedipus will soon be blind when he learns the truth that he has killed his father, married his mother, and is the brother of his own children, he gouges his eyes out due to self-disgrace.
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In Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Oedipus Rex exemplifies Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero, because of his error in judgement, he suffers the consequences of his actions, and he moves from ignorance to knowledge as he learns the truth about …show more content…
The audience consists of wealthy society and everyday people of Athens. For example, Oedipus is a relatable person because like everyone else, he is prone to human error. He is smart because he solves the riddle of the Sphinx; however, he is not perfect. He does not listen to the warnings of Teiresias and mocks Teiresias’ blindness. At the end, he learns he is a blind person until the truth comes out. Oedipus fits Aristotle’s concept of a tragic hero because the hero must evoke in the audience a sense of pity or fear. A tragedy often enables its audience to reflect on personal values that might conflict with civil ideals of other people. The audience must put themselves in the place of the person that is opposite of their character. Oedipus is a hero, and the people looks up to him as a person of great status. However, he is capable of a horrendous crime as murder of an innocent man. The audience must fear that the chain of events could happen to them or pity for what has happen to the hero. Should the audience feel sorry for Oedipus because he had no knowledge of his pass? Or should the audience condemn him for not listening to the prophet who knows the
In Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Oedipus Rex exemplifies Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero, because of his error in judgement, he suffers the consequences of his actions, and he moves from ignorance to knowledge as he learns the truth about …show more content…
The audience consists of wealthy society and everyday people of Athens. For example, Oedipus is a relatable person because like everyone else, he is prone to human error. He is smart because he solves the riddle of the Sphinx; however, he is not perfect. He does not listen to the warnings of Teiresias and mocks Teiresias’ blindness. At the end, he learns he is a blind person until the truth comes out. Oedipus fits Aristotle’s concept of a tragic hero because the hero must evoke in the audience a sense of pity or fear. A tragedy often enables its audience to reflect on personal values that might conflict with civil ideals of other people. The audience must put themselves in the place of the person that is opposite of their character. Oedipus is a hero, and the people looks up to him as a person of great status. However, he is capable of a horrendous crime as murder of an innocent man. The audience must fear that the chain of events could happen to them or pity for what has happen to the hero. Should the audience feel sorry for Oedipus because he had no knowledge of his pass? Or should the audience condemn him for not listening to the prophet who knows the