A Terrible Tragedy

reflect, since most focuses on society and human behaviors. In order to initiate and fulfill the “action” in a play and draw out the intended emotions, as Aristotle says in Poetics, a classic tragedy has six main elements: plot, character, diction, thought, spectacle, and song.Sophocles, who wrote the great tragedy of Oedipus Rex, develops his plot and character in order to convey to the audience a message about the inevitability of fate in the lives of mortals. Oedipus 's morally upstanding…

described as an individual with ideal traits and impressive personality that made him a great king, but his moral disposition was flawed resulting in his tragedy. From the story, it is evident that it is the struggle against the fate which brought evil into his life that resulted in his tragic experience. As he struggles he invites the tragedy he had struggled to escape. The name Oedipus in Greek means “swell foot” it is a description of his swollen feet. Three days after his birth, his parents…

The chapter by Scodel on Sophoclean Tragedy introduces the reader to the dynamic and catastrophic world (of what is left) of Sophocleans’ dramas. He introduces the writer, his tragedies, and all the elements that constitute the dramas. Scodel delves into the components Sophocles utilized to create the unique dramas and engaging characters. Scodel uses specific examples from various tragedies to convey the style, the tradition, and the portrayal of characters. Finally Scodel introduces Sophocles…

“Medea” is an Ancient Greek tragedy based written by Euripides, based on the myth of Jason and Medea. Tragedy is a type of drama that conveys a serious and dignified style about sorrowful or terrible events encountered or caused by an individual. Most definitions of tragedy that we use today come from some parts of the work “The Poetics” written by the philosopher Aristotle. In the simplest terms, Aristotle defined tragedy as a form of drama whose plot is centered on human suffering for the…

Sophocles, Oedipus the King, uses the characteristics of Aristotle’s ides on what makes a good tragedy. Oedipus left his homeland after he heard a prophecy that he would one day kill his father and marry is mother. Rather than take the gamble he elected to leave. While on his journey he came in contact with a man at a crossroad that he had to kill. Never giving the killing another thought, Oedipus continued his journey when he came across a Sphinx that was holding a town hostage. Oedipus solved…

“tragic” heroes. They are overcome with narcissism to an extent, and lose sight of their quest, or what they are supposed to obtain in their existential being. The consistent praise they are given becomes ego enhancement that ultimately fuels their tragedies. For example, Othello obtains the title "brave Othello" (Othello Act 2 Scene 1). He also receives recognition from the people as a born leader. Othello 's pride leads him to ignorance. He believes the lies that the villain Iago claims, over…

If you are oblivious to the truth and have no way of knowing what you did wrong, should you be blamed for your actions? Oedipus Rex is a play written by Sophocles in 441 b.c.. The play is about King Oedipus, ruler of Thebes, and his terrible destiny. There was an oracle created before the King’s birth that eventually proved to be true. The oracle claimed that Oedipus would kill his father, and also marry and have children with his mother. Knowing that this oracle was in place, Oedipus’s…

A Great And Terrible Beauty As a child, the first stories we are told are tales of magic and wonder of beautiful and brave princesses, the usual stories that let our imaginations thrive and explore. They keep our hopes and dreams alive, and can also provide an escape from the depressing world we all live in. In A Great And Terrible Beauty, the author Libba Bray builds a world where Gemma and her group of friends can only visit in their dreams. Gemma and her friends are whisked away to the…

Motherhood is an extensively explored subject within Greek tragedies. Most mothers in Greek tragedies play pivotal parts in the plot and contribute to the theme of the play as a whole. In the Greek tragedy King Oidipous by Sophocles, Jokasta’s role and influence as a mother shows that she is featured in the tragedy as an instrument of fate and to show how the role of a wife can conflict with being a mother; consequently, Jokasta’s roles are a major part in the meaning and outcome of the play.…

In every Greek tragedy there is a tragic hero. In Sophocles play Antigone the tragic hero is Antigone 's uncle, king Creon because he meets the criteria set by Aristotle 's definition of a Greek tragedy. Antigone is the second play in a series of three plays called The Theban Plays. Antigone 's entire family has been plagued with a curse that has killed her parents. Her two brothers have perished as well after a large battle over the thrown. All she has left is her uncle and her dear sister…