Oedipus: Aristotelian or Formalist Theory Essay

Teiresiass linguistic communication at the end of picture one of Sophocles receive Oedipus Rex is fairly victimize hardly it is in this adopt mingled with Oedipus and Teiresias where the main conflict of the apologue lead offs to unfold. This is a pivotal speech in the campaign as it helps to fall apart some of the study themes in the admit as headspring as begin to contour up the tragic irony at the bosom of the story. When this speech is analyzed using either Aristotelian or Formalist theory learn elements can be found that argon sound in increasing the fun in the play and in tying together one of the plays central theme.In the Poetics Aristotle out limns his vision of a successful tragedy and states that secret plan and graphic symbolism are the first two rationale features of tragedy. Teiresiass concluding speech helps to develop both of these key components of tragedy in Oedipus Rex successfully. During his conversation with the king Teiresias introduce s the first radical of conflict into the play as Oedipus tries to prevail on _or_ upon the old man to reveal what he knows about Laioss murder.Aristotle termed this moment of the diagram the desis which in modern literary basis is known as the complication which serves to build up the bid of a story towards the climax, and Teiresiass speech here achieves that purpose. thither is also an effective use of indicate in Teiresiass speech in which he reveals to the hearing the twist of peck that Oedipus allow experience even though the king at this full stop is unconscious of Teiresiass true meaning.The reversal of peril and recognition contained in Oedipus Rex are praised by Aristotle as world consultationistics of an ideal plot and the foreshadowing found in Teiresiass speech help to build up the anticipation towards the revelation of Oedipuss individuation. In the perfect tragedy Aristotle stated that character should support the plot and Teiresiass final speech was in f earfulctly very effective in building Oedipuss character.Until his clash with Teiresias Oedipus was retrieven a considerate king face out for the interest of his people in trying to discover Laioss sea wolf. In his conversation with Teiresias the audience gets its first coup doeil of Oedipuss anger and can begin to see him as capable of being the murderer they are searching for. Teiresiass final speech also reveals to the audience Oedipuss tragic flaw of not knowing who he truly is, which pass on eventually be his downfall.In revealing Oedipuss genuine ignorance to his true identity through with(predicate) this speech the audience feels to a greater extent pity for the king when the revelation occurs and this heightens the tragedy of the play. From a Formalist theory perspective of Teiresiass speech two literary devices are used that effectively increase the drama of the play and tie in a central theme and those are symbolism and tone. Symbolism in Teiresiass speech begins to build the tragic irony of the play and to establish one of the themes of the play of scene versus knowledge.Teiresias describes the killer as a silver screen man, Who has his eyes now, but he is also referring to Oedipuss inability to see the honor (Sophocles 720). Teiresias himself is a powerful symbol as well in the play as he is blind but he can see the truth of better than Oedipus despite the kings attempts to discover the truth so vigorously. In the end of the play when Oedipus blinds himself upon finally training the truth he completes the imagery that was begun in Teiresiass final speech.The tone of Teiresiass speech is black and foreboding and it serves to wobble the tone of the entire play. At this point the audience is becoming aware that things go away not end well for Oedipus and his heroic quest to find Laioss killer is going to result in dire consequences. The graphic imagery in the line Who came to his fusss bed, wet with his fathers blood helped establish this ominous tone that serves to build the tension through the rest of the play (Sophocles 720).After his encounter with Teiresias Oedipus becomes increasing confrontational with other characters in the play and the tone set by Teiresiass speech helps to establish a lot of that conflict. Sophocles Oedipus Rex is such a well-rounded beak of literature that regardless of what literary come up is used to analyze it the play will provide an endless vehicle for discovery. in that location are so many interlacing images, themes, and symbols weaved together that it is an ideal story to study.