Literature Network » Aristotle

Sophocles' 'Oedipus Rex.' (comment on Bernhard Frank, The Explicator, vol. 51, p. 5, Fall 1992)

Content courtesy of

From: The Explicator
Date: 19930922
Author:Green, Janet M.

Bernhard Frank points out that Oedipus, in Sophocles's 'Oedipus Rex,' blinded himself as an act of punishment for his incestuous acts with Jocasta. This Freudian interpretation is challenged in the light of Aristotle's definition of tragedy in 'The Poetics.' According to Aristotle, tragedy evokes pity and fear. Sophocles's play shows how Oedipus blinds himself out of extreme woe and confusion while gaining insight from his situation. The play's ending is a result of the actions of the gods rather than human design.

In the fall 1992 issue of The Explicator, Bernhard Frank presented an ...

Read the rest of this article with a Free Trial at HighBeam Research.

Other Articles on Aristotle

About Our Articles: We've partnered with Highbeam Research to provide these article excerpts for your research needs. However, due to copyright laws, we cannot publish the whole article. To view these articles in full length you'll need to use the link above to access the free trial at Highbeam.