Oedipus Rex – Themes | Short Exam Notes

• ·         Uncertainty of Human Destiny.
• ·         The role of Fate.
• ·         Spiritual Bankruptcy of the state.
• ·         Excessive Power and Pride.
• ·         The search for Final Truth.
• ·         Sacrifice and Salvation.
• ·         Wisdom through suffering.

Dramatic Irony in Oedipus Rex | Short Exam Notes

 Plays an important part in the play.

·         Story revolves around two different attempts to change the course of fate.

• Laius – Jocasta => attempts to kill Oedipus
• Oedipus => flight from Corinth later on.
• *in both the cases – Oracle’s prophecy comes true –regardless of actions.

·         The manner in which they (Oedipus – Jocasta) express their disbelief in oracles is ironic.

• Jocasta – “oracles are powerless” , the very next scene she goes to pray to the same powers.

·         Trust in God – Trust in intelligence.

• Oedipus trying to root out the truth, but irony,
• (oracles + Oedipus intelligence) = same outcome.
• *Jocasta says - “if he would have just left well enough alone, he would never have discovered the horrible workings of fate”
• *His intelligence is what makes him great, yet it is also what makes him tragic.

·         Sphinx Riddle – he himself is the answer.

·         BEST EXAMPLE – IRONY

The frequent use of references to eyes, sight, light and perception throughout.

“sight” – 2 meanings – Oedipus blessed with the gift of perception, but blind to the truth.

TEIRESIAS

• ·         Blind old man.
• ·         Foreshadows Oedipus’ own future.
• ·         The more Oedipus mocks his blindness, the more ironic he sounds to the audience.
• ·         Understands the truth without the use of his sight.
• ·         At the end, Oedipus becomes like Teiresias, who is blinded, but realizes the truth.
•       A pre-presentation of the Oedipus at the end. 

Tragic Hero - Aristotle | Short Exam Notes

Aristotle outlined that a Tragic Hero

• He must be "Better than we are", superior to the average man in some way.

• Must evoke Pity and Fear - the best to do this is - if he is imperfect.

• Mixture of Good and Evil - more compelling than a character who is merely good.

• Suffers because of his Hamartia. 
• In the midst of Irony.
• Meets a Sad Ending, but gains Wisdom through Suffering.

A Perfect Tragedy - Aristotle | Short Exam Notes

According to Aristotle

A Tragedy 

must be an imitation of life,

in the form of a story,

that is complete in itself.

• in other words, the story must be realistic and narrow in focus.

A Good Tragedy

• Will evoke pity and fear in its viewers.
• Causing the viewers to experience a feeling of catharsis.                    
• purgation / purification 
• viewers feeling elated

• Hamartia / Tragic Flaw - important for tragedy.

• Good tragedies are filled with irony.

• A sad ending, but the Wisdom gained through Suffering.