ENglish - This paper discusses the role peripeteia and pathos play in “Sophocles Oedipus PDF

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This paper discusses the role peripeteia and pathos play in “Sophocles Oedipus the King” ...

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According to Aristotle, peripeteia is the single most important and powerful element of plot in a tragedy. Peripeteia is defined as a complete reversal of fortune for the tragic hero from the beginning to the end. It is intended to stir up not only fear, but also pity in the hearts of the audience, and this is how both peripeteia and pathos work hand in hand. In my opinion, peripeteia and pathos are essential to “Sophocles Oedipus the King” because without those two aspects the play would not be considered a tragedy. This play once again, speaks to the theme of fate versus freewill. The story is told about a child who was fated to kill his father and marry his own mother. In order to avoid this prophecy, the child’s parents abandoned him causing him to be confused about whom his biological parents were. The sudden change in the play happens when the Prophet of Thebes, Tiresias informs King Oedipus that Laius was indeed his biological father and he himself had fulfilled his fate of killing his own father and marrying his mother, Jokasta. The conversation between Oedipus and Tiresias begins after Oedipus pleads with the prophet to tell him the truth so that he can bring justice to the one who had killed the past king. Tiresias replies to him by saying, “You killed the man whose killer you now hunt” (496). By the end of the play Oedipus is stripped of his kingdom and is banished to Mount Kithairon. Pathos is the sorrow or pity the audience feels because of a destructive action that leads to suffering. It is mostly seen in the end of the play as Oedipus is planning to leave the palace. Even though we know that Oedipus killed his father, we still feel sorry for him because not only did he strip himself of the kingdom, he also stripped himself of sight. Moreover, there was a moment when Kreon forgives him for everything he has done to him by saying “I haven’t come to mock you, Oedipus. I won’t dwell on the wrongs you did me.” (522). In addition, he also brought Oedipus’ daughters to see him one more time before he leaves for the mountain, never to see them again....