Analyzing Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex using Aristotle’s Poetics
In Aristotle’s Poetics, he dictates what he considers to be the elements required to create
a tragic drama, specifically plot, characters, diction, thought, spectacle, and lyric poetry
(melody). He also states specific parameters for some of these elements, for example, the plot
must be of an appropriate magnitude and must produce pity and fear in the audience to create a
catharsis. In examining Aristotle’s Poetics and his thorough definition of a tragic drama, I
believe that Oedipus Rex by Sophocles is the perfect example of Aristotle’s ideal tragic drama.
Firstly, Oedipus Rex has all of Aristotle’s essential elements to form a tragedy, as listed
in his Poetics. There’s a clear plotline with no subplots; characters that are causing the events of
the plot with their own actions – for example, Oedipus is actively pursuing the truth of the events
which brings about his downfall; thoughts that are clearly expressed by characters through
diction and song/melody – for example, Jocasta tells Oedipus that she thinks it’s best to leave
things as they are, as well as the Chorus advising Oedipus to listen to Jocasta; and the large-scale
spectacle of the ramifications of the events of the plot – for example, Oedipus, who is a noble
and heroic king, having this tragic flaw which turns his good intentions into his own downfall.
In relation to the plot, Aristotle has many specifications and requirements for what is in
the plot of a tragic drama. In Poetics, he writes that the plot must be structured in a fashion that
has distinguishable parts (ie, a beginning, middle and end) which are linked together in a cause
and effect chain. In the opening scene of Oedipus Rex, a priest begs Oedipus to put an end to the
plague that has taken over Thebes, but Oedipus is one step ahead of him, saying that he already
knew about what had been going on and has already sent Creon to an oracle to find out how he
can put an end to the curse and that Creon will be returning today. As soon as he says this, the
priest announces Creon’s arrival with the news. When Creon tells Oedipus that the curse can be
lifted by finding the former king’s murderer, this causes Oedipus to start digging for information
which then leads us into the middle portion of the plot. Each thing that a character does incites
themselves or someone else to do the next thing and it carries on sequentially, with no gap in
between each event. In reference to Creon’s arrival, he arrives immediately after Oedipus
mentions him, showing how fast that the events and the plot develop. It is also important to note
that everything revolves around Oedipus – one character – and his thoughts and actions. The plot
is solely focused on Oedipus and his journey towards his eventual downfall, but it is done in a
way that we can hear the thoughts and opinions of other characters, however it is always said to
Oedipus directly and always pushing him towards his next action. For example, Jocasta directly
tells Oedipus about her son with King Laius and how she doesn’t believe in prophecies, and that
because of this she thinks that Oedipus should stop looking into the past, which only urges him
to ignore her. As much as it is implied that Jocasta is worried about Oedipus and is scared for his
future, we don’t have as clear of image of her thoughts and feelings as we might have gotten if
this were a later Renaissance tragedy because the plot is not about her – it isn’t relevant to
Oedipus’ story and Aristotle has specified in his Poetics that a true plot of a tragedy doesn’t use
subplots or secondary story lines. All we know is that she told Oedipus to stop and he didn’t
want to listen. It is also important to mention that the plot ends in catharsis for the audience,
another important specification made by Aristotle. When Oedipus discovered that Jocasta is in
fact his mother, and that he had killed his father, we pity Oedipus because he was innocently
trying to help and save his city. However, it was his tragic flaw that made his downfall that much
more painful for the audience, and we feel bad for him as he blinds himself and begs to be
banished.
Through this viewpoint, it is clear to see that Sophocles’ Oedipus the King is the perfect
example of Aristotle’s ideal tragic drama, as it meets all of his requirements and contains all the
elements that he states in Poetics.
