Oedipus Rex is a tragedy about a man who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother. Oedipus’s tragic flaw is his hubris, or excessive pride. This leads him to believe that he can avoid his fate, even though the gods have warned him otherwise. Oedipus’s tragic story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris and the importance of accepting one’s fate.
It undoubtedly satisfies the five key criteria for a tragedy: a tragic hero of noble birth, a tragic flaw, an fall from grace, a moment of anguish, and catharsis. Oedipus Rex meets the first of these five criteria clearly. Oedipus is the son of Laius, who was ruler of Thebes. Even though we are told that Oedipus is the son of Polybus early in the tale, he is still born into nobility; Corinth’s king Polybus is his father.
Oedipus’ tragic flaw is his hubris, his overbearing pride. Oedipus is so confident in himself that he refuses to believe that he could have done anything wrong, even when all the evidence points to him. This leads to his fall from grace, as he is forced to leave Thebes in disgrace.
Oedipus does experience a moment of remorse when he finally realizes the truth about what he has done. However, this does not change the fact that he is responsible for the deaths of his father and mother, and for the suffering of his people. The catharsis comes at the end of the play, when Oedipus blinds himself and goes into exile. This tragedy definitely meets all five of the main criteria.
The catastrophic mistake, or blunder that a character makes in Oedipus Rex does not occur during the story itself. We simply observe as Oedipus and the rest of the characters discover this error that was made long ago but can’t be undone. Of course, Oedipus murdering his father Lauis and subsequently marrying Jocasta is the tragic flaw in the play.
Oedipus’ tragic flaw is his hubris, or over-confidence. Oedipus is so confident in himself that he does not listen to anyone’s warnings about his true parentage. This eventually leads to Oedipus’ downfall, as he discovers that he has killed his father and married his mother, the very things he was trying to avoid. Oedipus Rex is a tragedy because it follows the fall of a great man who makes one tragic mistake that causes his entire life to unravel. Oedipus represents the ideal man who tries to do everything right but is ultimately undone by one tragic flaw.
Both of these events, on the other hand, occurred many years ago. When Oedipus kills Laius in Oedipus Rex, Jocasta and all of the other characters in the play learn that Oedipus has truly committed incest and is actually Jocasta’s father as well as her husband. This happens rather swiftly near to the conclusion of the play. The audience sees this coming a long time before it happens, however. In one of Oedipus’ conversations with Jocasta, everything is plainly explained to us.
Oedipus even uses the term “mystery” which is pretty on the nose. Oedipus’s tragic flaw is his hubris, his overweening pride. This leads him to ignore the warnings of both Teiresias and the Oracle at Delphi, and to believe that he can outsmart fate itself. Oedipus’s downfall is therefore a direct result of his own actions and choices.
Jocasta informs Oedipus that Laius was slain in the market place, near three roads that meet. Oedipus claims to have caused illness among a few servants who accompanied him when he illed someone where three streets met. Jocasta then describes Laius to Oedipus as saying, “His form was not much different from yours” (p. 27).
As soon as Oedipus has heard it all, he exclaims, “O, it’s clear enough now!” (p. 27) implying that he is responsible for his father’s death. He goes on to make certain beyond any doubt of this fact despite the fact that he is clear culpable for it being true.
Oedipus had killed Lauis without knowing that he was his father. Oedipus’s tragic flaw is hubris, which led to his downfall. Oedipus is so arrogant that he will not listen to anybody, not even the truth. Oedipus Rex is a tragedy because it shows how Oedipus’s tragic flaw leads to his downfall. Oedipus Rex also shows how a tragic hero can bring about his own downfall through his actions.
Oedipus’s actions of killing Lauis and marrying Jocasta led to his downfall, even though he did not know that they were his father and mother. Oedipus Rex is a tragedy because it teaches us about the dangers of hubris and how it can lead to our downfall.
The audience feels sorry for this unfortunate man who has killed his father and married his mother, as well as the people of this and other civilizations who have been affected by an abominable curse due to it. In these five ways, Oedipus Rex is classified a tragedy in the story.
However, in my opinion, you do not need a standard checklist to determine whether or not Oedipus Rex is a tragedy. Any story that ends with the death of one main character and a lifetime of misery, disgrace, and self-exile for the other major figure is unquestionably a tragedy.
Oedipus Rex is one of the saddest, most moving, and most tragic stories ever written. It is a story which will stay with you long after you have finished reading it. It is a story which will make you think about the nature of fate, and whether or not we are truly in control of our own destiny. Oedipus Rex is a tragedy, and it is one of the greatest tragedies ever written.
Oedipus Rex is a tragedy because it contains all of the elements of a tragedy. It has a tragic hero, Oedipus, who has a tragic flaw, his hubris. Oedipus’s hubris leads him to believe that he can outwit the gods, and this ultimately leads to his downfall. The story also has a tragic plot, in which Oedipus tries to avoid his fate but is ultimately unable to do so. The story ends with the death of Oedipus and the exile of his wife, Jocasta.