Brooke Brust
Mrs. Cartier
Honors English II 5 th
hr
October 26, 2012
A Greek Tragedy
In the Greek play Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, the city of Thebes is cursed by a plague from the Gods due to the murder of their former king, Laius. The new king, Oedipus, searches for the murderer of King Laius to exile from the city and bring the plague to an end.
Quick to act, Oedipus accuses both the well-known prophet Teirisias and his brother-in-law
Creon of the murder, only to discover by the end of the play that he was the murderer himself.
Oedipus also learns that King Laius was his father whom an oracle had foretold Oedipus would kill, and that his wife Jocasta was his mother whom the oracle had foretold Oedipus would marry. Distraught and forlorn Oedipus blinds and exiles himself from the city. This play Oedipus
Rex is a Greek tragedy because it has a central action, a complex plot, and a tragic hero.
Tragedies, according to Aristotle’s definition, are unified by one central action which is signified by the characters’ actions. In Oedipus Rex there is one unifying, central action which is the murder of King Laius. The murder of King Laius causes the Greek Gods to be angry and place a plague on the city of Thebes. Oedipus then takes upon himself a search for the murder of
King Laius to put an end to the plague. This is Oedipus’ first act in the play and he is searching throughout most of the show. Oedipus’ action throughout the play to find the murderer is centered on King Laius death. However, Once Oedipus finds the killer is himself he says,
O light, may I look on you for the last time!
I, Oedipus,

Oedipus, damned in his birth, in his marriage damned,
Damned in the blood he shed with his own hand (4.1121-1124).
Oedipus is so distraught at his father’s death that he blinds and exiles himself. King Laius’ death is the cause of this last act of Oedipus. Every action is centered around King Laius’ murder and unifies the play from beginning to end as a tragic play should.
Tragedies must either contain the qualities of a complex or simple plot, and Oedipus Rex has the qualities of a complex plot because it holds both a reversal, or turning point, and recognition. When Oedipus is talking to his wife, Jocasta, he begins to realize that his story of coming to Thebes matches well with the story of the king’s death leaving Thebes. Then a messenger steps into the story and starts unraveling the truth of Oedipus’ birthright. This scares
Jocasta but interests Oedipus and he continues searching for the truth, starting a reversal. The story changes and Oedipus, this great king and savior, trying to find the killer to save Thebes, is actually the murderer himself. To truly find out, Oedipus sends for the one surviving eyewitness who saw Laius killed and questions him on the killing and Oedipus’ birthright. Oedipus then exclaims, “Ah God! / It was true!” (4.1117-1118). Oedipus realizes the truth and regrets his mistake bringing the recognition of this tragedy.
Finally, tragedies must contain a tragic hero. The hero must be a ruler who is both good and bad, but falls from his rich state because of some mistake or infirmity. In Oedipus Rex
Oedipus is the tragic hero. Oedipus was a king over the city of Thebes and he held both good and bad qualities. Oedipus says of his people, “It is for them I suffer, more than for myself” (Pro.
96). Oedipus cares for his people, both loving and selfless. However, when Oedipus becomes mad at Teiresias, the prophet, for not telling Oedipus the information he wants on the murder
Oedipus jumps ahead of himself and says, “You planned it, you had it done, you all but / Killed

him with your own hands” (1. 331-332). Oedipus impulsively accuses Teiresias when upset, showing that Oedipus is quick to anger and quick to accuse. Not only is he a ruler with both good and bad but he falls from his rich state when he learns of himself to be the murderer. Creon tells
Oedipus, “Think no longer / That you are in command here, but rather think / How, when you were, you served your own destruction” (Ex. 1464-1466). Oedipus loses all he had, his kingdom, his children, his pride, and is exiled. This completes Oedipus’ definition as a tragic hero, as should be found in all tragedies.
Over all, Oedipus Rex is a model of Greek tragedy because it contains a central action, a complex plot, and a tragic hero. Oedipus’ actions revolve around the central action of Laius murder, and the play’s plot has both a reversal and recognition in which Oedipus realizes his part in the murder. Oedipus is the model of a tragic hero because of his qualities and his fall. Oedipus
Rex is supported by all of these elements and works as a great example of Greek tragedy.