Characterization in Oedipus the King Essay - 2193 Words

Characterization in Oedipus Rex The dialogue, action and motivation revolve about the characters in the story (Abrams 32-33). It is the purpose of this essay to demonstrate the types of characters present in Sophocles’ tragic drama, Oedipus Rex, whether static or dynamic, whether flat or round, and whether protrayed through showing or telling. Werner Jaeger in â€Å"Sophocles’ Mastery of Character Development† pays the dramatist the very highest compliment with regard to character development: The ineffaceable impression which Sophocles makes on us today and his imperishable position in the literature of the world are both due to his character-drawing. If we ask which of the men and women ofGreek tragedy†¦show more content†¦Not for some far-off kinsman, but myself, Shall I expel this poison in the blood; For whoso slew that king might have a mind To strike me too with his assassin hand. A touch of selfishness is revealed in the above passage, an element which a truly lifelike and rounded character cannot be without. As Jaeger says, there is no artificiality about Sophocles’ characters (37). Oedipus, in his public proclamation regarding punishment for the killer of King Laius, shows his compassion and mercy toward the guilty party if he confesses his crime: Thebans, if any knows the man by whom Laius, son of Labdacus, was slain, I summon him to make clean shrift to me. And if he shrinks, let him reflect that thus Confessing he shall scape the capital charge; For the worst penalty that shall befall him Is banishment--unscathed he shall depart. One virtue or passion at a time, the reader sees the character of Oedipus round out from flat to very three-dimensional. The king’s great gift of fluency is amply demonstrated in his cross-examination of the holy man Teiresias,Show MoreRelatedEssay on Characterization in Oedipus the King and Homers Odyssey1258 Words   |  6 PagesCharacterization in Oedipus the King and Homers Odyssey The characters in a novel or play are attributed certain characteristics by the author. 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