Oedipus Rex Group

Question:

tinagunderson34
tinagunderson34
Student
College - Freshman

The plot of Oedipus Rex has been called one of the most perfect dramatic plots ever devised. 

Why is it admired? What are its outstanding characteristics?

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Posted by tinagunderson34 on Monday April 14, 2008 at 1:13 PM and tagged with oedipus rex.

Answers:


  1. gbeatty Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    Oedipus Rex is admired for its plot because of two closely related qualities: the peripeteia and the irony. "Peripeteia" means reversal, and it is hard to image a more complete reversal than occurs in this play. Oedipus is a king, and wants to do what is right by his people, and, specifically, to cure the plague ravaging them. What does he learn when he investigates? That the cause of the plague is…himself! That he killed his father and married his mother, precisely because of an attempt to dodge a prophecy that he would do that very thing! That, combined with his wails of agony when he realizes that his whole life is the reverse of what he planned, are exquisite.

    Sources:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripeteia

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    Posted by gbeatty on Wednesday April 16, 2008 at 5:53 PM