"Oedipus Rex" is a story that I enjoyed but would not recommend to anyone. I think there are other tragedies that would teach the genre better like anything that Shakespeare wrote that falls under the category. To give you a basic run-down of the story, Oedipus is a hero of the past that is approached by the local priest to solve the myriad of problems in the city; you know, the usual stuff: plague, famine, and miscarriages abound. It is later revealed that Oedipus must find the murder of the king named Laius. Tiresius, the local oracle of sorts, accuses Oedipus of murdering the king. Oedipus vehemently denies the accusation and continues on his search, blaming his uncle for the act. Oedipus learns about a prophecy saying the heir of the king will kill that king, suggesting that he (Oedipus) is the king's son. Oedipus is in denial about being the king's son. Later, it is revealed that his wife, Jocasta, also happens to be his mother. Unable to live after finding this out, Jocasta kills herself. After seeing this, Oedipus proceeds to gouge his eyes out. I think this story has quite a bit to say about tragedy and the human condition, but I will keep this short. For starters, Oedipus' tragic flaw is something that I found to be uniquely brilliant. His only flaw is that he is himself. He didn't ask to be who he was, and was unaware that he married his mother, who was also oblivious. This speaks to the human condition because Oedipus felt he couldn't do anything to help his situation, a feeling that many people experience often. I think this taught me that tragedy perhaps has a certain helplessness element to it. I would be remiss if I did not point out that I found it ironic that Oedipus gouged his eyes out, thus blinding himself, just as he began to see his life more clearly. For whatever reason, I enjoyed the fact that the blind man was the one who could finally see. If you would like to read "Oedipus Rex," you can find it here.
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