The Ancient Greeks valued entertainment as a society and one form of that entertainment was Greek Drama. The Ancient Greeks used Greek drama to exploit the world they lived in by trying to make sense of its meaning and the purpose of themselves in the world. The Greeks used these dramas to evoke a sense of catharsis from the audience at the end of the tragedy by first building up a variety of emotions throughout the drama to then just have the audience release emotions of pity or fear at the end. In a tragedy, the protagonist is usually known as the tragic figure, a virtuous individual who in the end faces their demise due to a flaw in their character because of a trait or power they possess.
This figure is usually destined to suffer or have a downfall and by trying to escape it they end up fulfilling their prophecy and demise. All tragic heroes possess free will so they voluntarily make the choices that lead to their defeat, even if they are unaware of those choices at the time like Oedipus in Oedipus Tyrannus by Sophocles. Sophocles was an author of classical Greek literature who was skillful in developing these types of Greek dramas through irony. He wrote of virtuous and courageous heroes with specific “tragic flaws” that lead the hero to his downfall. In Oedipus Tyrannus, Oedipus’ hubris, pride, throughout the drama is what led to his downfall in the end.
In the epic, Oedipus Tyrannus by Sophocles, Oedipus is an individual who makes a series of choices trying to escape a prophecy that proclaimed he would end up killing his father and sleeping with his mother but it is through those choices of trying to avoid this prophecy that he ironically ends up doing just that and fulfilling it. Some would consider Oedipus to be a “tragic figure,” a virtuous character who is destined for demise regardless of his standing. Oedipus is a king, a man of virtue, who is concerned about the well-being of his people and has their best interest at heart, which as a result makes him a good leader.
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His dedication toward the people under his rule is exemplified numerous times throughout the drama. The epic opens up with Oedipus already ruling Thebes for several years, this long period of ruling indicated the capability he had of being a leader as it showed consistency. Oedipus cares about the land he rules and its’ inhabitants as he states in the epic “Ah my poor children what you come to seek is known already, not unknown to me. You are all sick, I know it; and in your sickness there is not one of you so sick as I. For in your case his own particular pain comes to each singly; but my heart at once groans for the city, and for myself, and you” (Sophocles, 108).
In this segment of the drama Oedipus reveals his compassion for his people as he calls them all his children. Calling them his children means that he has formed a connection with his people a connection where he must care for them. He is also taking the responsibility of their suffering where he only hopes to help cure them from a plague that has come across the city. He also makes it clear that he has never lied about what he knew, as he was always open with his people on every issue while sympathizing with them.
