Oedipus+Essay

In Sophocle's greek drama, //Oedipus Rex//, Oedipus is described as a "tragic figure." This is the best way to describe Oedipus. A "tragic figure" is a mighty figure who has suffered a reversal of fortune, endures uncommon suffering, recognizes the consequences of his actions, and also their plight enobles us. Those are five ways to describe a "tragic figure." Which is exactly what Oedipus is.

The first thing about a "tragic figure" is that they resemble a mighty figure, which Oedipus is by being the King of Thebes. He saved the city from the sphinx by solving the riddle and they automatically named him king. He is on top of the world at this point. The second thing about a "tragic figure" is that they suffer a reversal of fortune. In the beginning of the play, Oedipus is king and by the end of the play, he becomes exiled. That is a big reversal, going from the top of the city to being kicked out of the city.

The third thing about a "tragic figure" is that they endure uncommon suffering. Oedipus endures that by killing his father and marrying his mother. He also had kids with his mother. Of course, he didn't know all this until it was nearly the end of the play. It's uncommon because nobody kills their father, then marry their mother.

The fourth thing about a "tragic figure" is that they recognize the consequences of their actions. Oedipus punished himself after he fins out Jacosta killed herself by gouging out his eyes, so he wont't have to see what his actions did. Here is a quote from Oedipus after he gouged his eyes out: "Ah, no friends: lead me away.Lead me away from Thebes. Lead the great wreck And hell of Oedipus, whom the gods hate." He wants Creon to exile him from Thebes as retaliation for his actions. The fifth and lst thing about a "tragic figure" is that their plight enoble us. Which his does, watching the downfall of him because of his actions, it makes us slow down to be more careful.

In this play, Oedipus learns a very valuable lesson. He learns that you need to be more careful when you do something. Slow down and think before you do something. If he had thought of what the consequences might be, he probably wouldn't have done all that he did.