Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex

Complex Oedipus

Advantages: Absolutely brilliantly written and plotted
Disadvantages: Umm... er...

Oedipus is considered by many people, including Aristotle who used it as the model of a perfect tragedy in his ?poetics?, to be the finest tragedy ever written. I am one of these people, and given that I have a tendancy to detest books I studied at school (Classics A-level in this case) that?s saying something. Oedipus Tyrranus is exceptionally well-written. There is not a single line that doesn?t add to the play. Even the Chorus seem to be talking sense in their Odes, which is more than can be said for most Choral Odes. There aren?t even any wasted characters; two of the minor characters essentially have two roles within the play, saving the audience the effort of having to juggle two extra characters. The premise of the Oedipus story is, partially courtesy of Freud, one of the best known in the world; he is the man who kills his ...

Muswell 16.04.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Oedipus Rex - Sophocles

Oedipus Rex

Advantages: n/a
Disadvantages: n/a

Discuss the extent to which Oedipus Rex is a play where the focus is on the performance of actions, rather than the speaking of words. Oedipus Rex focuses on the downfall of the play?s central character, Oedipus, according to the prophecy of Apollo?s oracle. However, the play significantly begins when Oedipus is an adult and has become King of Thebes. The events that brought him from Corinth to Thebes are relayed to the audience through the narrative of the play. Also, further dramatic events, including the suicide of Oedipus? wife and mother, Jocasta and his act of self-blinding, are not enacted on the stage. Again, it is an attendant who describes these events to the audience. This essay will argue that Oedipus Rex is a play which does not centre on the performance of actions, rather the focus is on the speaking of words ...

nicolemorgan 25.02.2003 (26.02.2003) · Read full review
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Review of Essays

Eatapus

Advantages: Classic Greek drama
Disadvantages: Won't appeal to everyone

I?ve always been kind of interested in Greeks and mythology, but it was something I never really took up. In the course of my degree, however, I studied both Plato and Aristotle, and their thoughts on Greek art and drama in particular. In ancient Greek society, everyone knew their Homer and poets were quoted as authorities on just about anything by the educated. Excerpts from great works (many lost) are dotted throughout Plato?s dialogues and Aristotle?s works, and there are many other references. This inspired me to buy some Greek plays, but sadly it was in my final year of my degree so it wasn?t until after the exams I had time to read them! Sophocles? Oedipus Rex was considered by his contemporaries to be his finest play, so it is just as well it is one of the seven (out of 123) that survive in full! It?s much admired by Aristotle ...

a-true-ben 09.01.2004 (24.03.2004) · Read full review
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Review of Oedipus Rex - Sophocles