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Oedipus the King and Aristotle's Views on Tragedy - Online Term Papers

Oedipus the King and Aristotle's Views on Tragedy

Tragedy According to Aristotle

In his Poetics Aristotle defines tragedy as the imitation of an action. This imitation and action are both serious, complete and important. The purpose of tragedy is to evoke pity and fear in the audience. At the end of the play a catharsis of pity and fear occurs, bringing the audience to the ultimate depth of the pity and fear aroused throughout the play. This occurs through a number of elements that are to be included in the play. The six parts identified by Aristotle for this purpose are Plot, Characters, Diction, Thought, Spectacle, Melody. In short then, Aristotle is of the opinion that tragedy is to evoke pity and fear, culminating in ultimate ...

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are tightly bound within the play. The beginning then initiates the causes and effects, evoking pity and fear. The middle provides the climax and catharsis, while the end is the resolution.

"Oedipus the King" then begins with Oedipus journeying away from his parental home to prevent the tragedy predicted by the oracle. Pity and fear are evoked by Oedipus' circumstances, and the fact that he feels he must abandon all that he has known. The catharsis of the middle is provided by the truth revealed. Oedipus, being adopted, has left what was a safe haven to enter the very prophesy he was trying to avoid. The resolution occurs in the manifestations of Oedipus' all-encompassing guilt. He murders his mother for her sins and destroys his own eyes for his perceived sins.

Character

According to Aristotle, all characters within the tragedy must support the plot. The personal motivations of the main character are thus interwoven with the causes and effects within the play. ...

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Oedipus the King and Aristotle's Views on Tragedy. (2016, May 12). Retrieved May 19, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Oedipus-the-King-Aristotles-Views-Tragedy/105627

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 5/12/2016 06:04:30 AM
Category: Film & Theater
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 841
Pages: 4

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