Write an essay on the structure of Sophocles's King Oedipus.

Ans. King Oedipus by Sophocles is a triumph of Greek tragedy. Its structure is almost perfect and serves as a model for the writer of subsequent generation. Indeed, Aristotle praises its construction as a tragedy in his Poetics. Sophocles uses a complex plot, maintains all the three unities and improves the art of characterisations from the earlier Sophocles : Oedipus Rex The most important point in the structure of the tragedy is its well- made plot which Aristotle considered an ideal one. The plot of King Oedipus is complete in itself. That is, it has a beginning, a middle and The action is unified. There is nothing which does not come naturally. The action of the play is about the tragic fate of its protagonist, Oedipus. Oedipus, the king of Thebes, is a good man. He is honoured by his subjects. His reputation as a wise man goes afar. When the city
suffers from a terrible plague, the citizens plead to the king to save them.
Oedipus is quick to his act to save his country. He sends for the counsel of the Oracle which advises to find out the killer of Laius, the cause of the present affliction, and banish him from Thebes. Then he calls in Teiresias for his prophetic power. But the irony of fate is that all his findings lead to the very truth that it is Oedipus who commits the crimes
of patricide and incest, is the "unclean thing". In unbearable agony and shame, he blinds himself and leaves the country forever. dt oroesed The plot of King Oedipus is a complex one which Aristotle
preferred. It has both reversal and discovery. When the Corinthian messenger comes with the death news of King Polybus, Oedipus becomes happy as the Oracle predicted that he would kill Polybus whom he thinks his father. But the messenger discloses that Polybus is
not Oedipus' real father but he gave Oedipus to Polybus. Oedipus also comes to know that the messenger took him from a Theban shepherd. Again, when the shepherd is questioned, Oedipus discovers that he is actually the son of Laius, whom he killed, and Jocasta whom he marries. This turn of event and discovery of the truth make the plot of
King Oedipus unique. Besides its plot, all the characters of the play are suitable for a tragedy. The main character, Oedipus, belongs to high class and is on the side of good. But he has tragic flaw which makes him suffer no men ever do. Moreover, Sophocles also maintains the unity of place and time. The whole action of the play takes place before the royal palace of Thebes and within the single revolution of the sun. Another constant element of Greek tragedy is the Chorus. In King Oedipus, the Chorus consisting of fifteen elders of Thebes plays significant role. It not only comments on the event but also acts like a character. It advises Oedipus to take help of blind prophet Teiresias to find out the killer .of Laius. It also pacifies the hostility between Oedipus and Teiresias as well as Oedipus and Creon. Again, the Chorus manages to convince Oedipus not to banish or execute Creon. So, it can be said that King Oedipus has all the structural
ingredients to be a perfect tragedy. It has a complex plot, an ideal tragic hero, three unities and other necessary paraphernalia.