Oedipus the King an Analysis of the Tragedy Essay

Oedipus the King an Analysis of the Tragedy - Essay Example This essay approves that the most important feature of a tragedy is the plot according to Aristotle. The plot is the way the incidents are arranged and presented to the audience. It must be whole, with a beginning, middle and end. The beginning should give an indication of the cause-and effect chain .We see this in the first scene of ‘Oedipus’ where the people have come to him to save them. The middle or ‘climax’ as it is called now, must be caused by earlier action and it must lead to further complication. The end, or ‘denoument’ must be caused by earlier events, resolving the complication.’ Oedipus’ has a climax caused by his actions and a final denoument. This paper makes a conclusion that ‘Oedipus the King’ with its use of dramatic irony and ability to arouse powerful emotions and its perfect blending of the elements of Apollonian and Dionysian, is the perfect example of a tragedy according to Plato, Aristotle and Nietzsche. According to Plato, it is a drama which extols uncontrolled emotions in the spectators, without contributing to rationa thought. According to Aristotle, who disagreed with Socrates’ theory, Greek tragedy especially ‘Oedipus the King’ is the perfect example of the form. According to Nietzsche, ‘Oedipus the King’ combines both Apollonian and Dionysian elements, with its chorus and structure, thus lifting the spectators to heights of ecstasy culminating with the oneness of Being.