CLASSICAL APPROACH
As great Greek Tragedies survived from surpassing from the test of time,
Oedipus Rex or Oedipus The King is one of the examples of it which is still being
admired by spectators even nowadays. They assert that it reveals a mythic story
concerning “murder mystery, political thriller, and psychological whodunnit” for being
predestination of patricide and incest, and ended up blinding himself. Using Plato
and Aristotle’s Literary Theories stipulated by Classical approach, it was proved that
classical literary text. Through examining (1) good and bad imitations of life or reality,
or Mimesis and a sense of censorship respectively, and (2) an action that purges
negative emotions like pity and fear or Catharsis, Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex was able
to be facaded as one of the survivors from predominating time and celebrated till
Imitations of life and reality in the milieu in the text, as stated in the anecdote of
example of it. Hence, imitation is seen in the text since tragic happenings might
envitably occur in real life like patricide or killing their father and incest or having
sexual relationship with a relative, as to how Oedipus unknowingly killed Lauis and
marry Queen Jocasta, her mother. It can also be seen a case of suicide when Queen Diaz, Benedict B. CLASSICAL APPROACH
Jocasta committed it on where it can also happen in real life. Another, the city of
where he was born as well as Thebes is famous in Greek Mythology for Zeus had a
daughter here with Hera which is a Theban princess once. So, it proves that the said
tragedy captured reality from another reality which is from mythology. Likewise, one
of the characters here in the text is Tiresias which is also mentioned from Persian
Nevertheless, most of these imitations contradict his philosophy about art and
literature on where he clearly stated that “what is good and what is beautiful should
be the one to be exemplified.” But since all of these things were presented in the text
clearly, censorship was not being fully catered in the Tragedy because of the tragic
events in the life of Oedipus and his family by (1) killing his own father, (2) marrying
his own mother, (3) conducting suicide of Queen Jocasta, and at the end (4) raking
out Oedipus' own eyes so that he may not see the miseries he has caused with his
family. Also, it can be seen a bad imitation of life to the part presenting the tragic
prophecy from the young Oedipus that he will soon kill his own father. It is known that
exposing tragic events to the young. Moreover, the character of Oedipus is seen as
somewhat arbitrary” that does not show Plato’s philosophy as a perfect individual. It
is shown in (1) the part where Tiresias had a conversation with then made him Diaz, Benedict B. CLASSICAL APPROACH
(Oedipus) loses his temper and insults the prophet, and accusing both him and
Creon of Treason, (2) the part where Oedipus is sentencing Creon to death but
taking it back suddenly, and (3) the part where he is already blind rebuking, “Do not
crave to be master in everything always.” on where this shows his pride of his
wisdom. (Khan, 2018). Furthermore, it is found that by hearing out the story of former
King Lauis and Queen Jocasta giving their own child to other people shows bad
imitation, as far as Plato is concerned. Thus, these do not follow the moral absolute
value in the society, making these bad imitations should be censored but rather it is
not.
Tragedies where “it is an imitation of action that is of serious, complete, and certain
magnitude.” Pity, as a feeling under catharsis, is seen all over in the play. It started
from the city of Thebes when the people were begging for their king to end the
Priest:
form of pity as to share painful feelings for another (Merriam & Merriam, 2018), or
from the Chorus to Oedipus, so that they will be granted of what they ask for.
Secondly, is when Tiresias felt sad for Oedipus for not knowing his true descent as
Tiresias:
Nor where you live, nor with whom you dwell. (435)
because just before he came to Thebes he killed a man who resembled Laius at a
Oedipus:
And by looking upon the words, it is concluded that he is distress of what he has
done. And at the end, it is found that Oedipus rakes his eyes for experiencing the
Chorus:
Put out your eyes like that? What god set you to it? (1359)
Moreover, fear is presented in the text on where it was seen on the life of both
parents on where when they heard of an oracle about their son trying to kill them
soon, they tried to give their own son to other people so that they may live. So, it is a Diaz, Benedict B. CLASSICAL APPROACH
manifestation of fear because they were proved as frightened of being killed by their
In this paper, one will be able to prove Oedipus Rex as classical literary text
who surpass from the test of time. Specifically, through an examination conducted
with the imitations of life and reality in the real world and even from other reality as in
other literature as mythology. Also, it is proved that censorship has not been put in
Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex for it shows tragic events that does not follow Plato’s
Philosophy of art and literature. Likewise, pity and fear in the text is seen in both the
Hence, the tragedy’s presentation of (1) good and bad imitations of life or reality, or
Mimesis and a sense of censorship respectively, and (2) actions that purge negative
emotions like pity and fear or Catharsis, is an alter ego who will remain surviving
from any generation and any complex of time, and will be celebrated through lots of
dramatic presentations. Diaz, Benedict B. CLASSICAL APPROACH
Bibliography:
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/o/the-oedipus-trilogy/about-the-oedipus-tril
ogy?lcitation=true
Khan, A. (2018). Discuss the relationship between man and the gods in oedipus rex.
Department of English Language & Literature IIUI. Retrieved on July 18, 2018
from
https://free.facebook.com/groups/104085463033962?view=permalink&id=1640
147949427698&_rdr
Mastin, L. (2009). Ancient greece - sophocles - oedipus the king. Retrieved on July
http://www.ancient-literature.com/greece_sophocles_oedipus_king.html
