Oedipus the King is known for being a Tragedy. But for what reasons is the play a tragedy. Oxford Reference Online defines Tragedy as a 'play dealing in an elevated, poetic style with events which depict man as the victim of destiny yet superior to it, both in grandeur and in misery' (ORO, tragedy). This relates directly to the story of Oedipus. Oedipus is the victim of destiny. Born to the King and Queen of Thebes, an orecle fortells that the son will kill his father and marry his mother. Fearing the prophesy given by the orecle, the King and Queen devise a plan to kill thier son to escape fate. As a tragic play mandates Oedipus lives and therefore fulfls the prophesy although he is unaware of his involvement.
Work Cited:
"Tragedy" The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. Ed. Phyllis Hartnoll and Peter Found. Oxford University Press, 1996. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Central Washington University. 1 November 2010 <http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t79.e3103>
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