What is the basic plot of Oedipus Rex?

The plot of Oedipus Rex is a straightforward interpretation of a Greek myth. When the king and queen of Thebes give birth to a son, Oedipus, an oracle tells them that their child will kill his father. To avoid this the king, Laius, orders the child to have his feet broken and then be left for dead.

What are the 5 themes of Oedipus Rex?

Oedipus Rex Themes

  • Fate vs. Free Will.
  • Guilt and Shame. The play begins with a declaration from the oracle at Delphi: Thebes is suffering because the person guilty of the murder of King Laius has not been brought to justice.
  • Sight vs. Blindness.
  • Finding Out the Truth.
  • Action vs.

What does Oedipus Rex symbolize?

The crossroads represent fate, where Oedipus made the choice to unknowingly fulfill his prophecy and kill his father. Lastly, Oedipus’s ankles represent the physical deformity that played a role in his fate; it’s also another symbolic body part that points to Oedipus’s moral deformity and ignorance of his own identity.

What is the final message of Oedipus Rex?

The message we receive through Oedipus in the story is a warning against pride. Oedipus’ great success would not have been possible had he not been self-confidant and sure of his actions, but the tragedy of his fate may have been bypasses had he listened to those around him.

Why Oedipus Rex is a tragedy?

Oedipus Rex is a typical classical tragedy because it has the element of tragic setting, atmosphere and mood, tragic character with tragic hamartia, tragic plot design moving to tragic disintegration, and therefore the tragic realization by the character and audience.

What is irony in Oedipus Rex?

Oedipus the King is a classic example of dramatic irony because the entire focus of the play is on Oedipus unknowingly condemning himself by demanding to know the truth about the murderer of the former king. The entire action of the play is built on the dramatic irony that the murderer that Oedipus seeks is himself.

How is Oedipus a tragic hero?

In terms of the Aristotelian theory of tragedy, Oedipus is a tragic hero because he is not perfect, but has tragic flaws. Aristotle points out that Oedipus’ tragic flaw is excessive pride (hubris) and self-righteousness. He also points out certain characteristics that determine as tragic hero.

Is Oedipus a hero Why or why not?

Oedipus fulfills the three parameters that define the tragic hero. His dynamic and multifaceted character emotionally bonds the audience; his tragic flaw forces the audience to fear for him, without losing any respect; and his horrific punishment elicits a great sense of pity from the audience.