Oedipus Rex is a great example of an Aristotelian Tragedy because it follows each and every rule that Aristotle put in place, making in a cohesive and well known story. The first part of an Aristotelian Tragedy must be about a serious subject. Oedipus starts out as a quest to find and prosecute the Late King Laos's murder. Once a few insights into Oedipus's entangled past, it is ultimately a story about Oedipus uncovering his past, compared to Jocasta's. This is serious because the audience learns the basis of Pericles's Oedipus Complex, and the audience learn more about the horrific past of Oedipus.
Secondarily, the Tragedy must have a Tragic Hero with a high status. They also need to have a flaw, typically called hamartia. Oedipus, as the audience finds out later, is the son of King Laos, and after he is exiled, lives with his adopted parents, hears a prophecy, and travels away from his adopted home, Oedipus becomes king of his father's land, which is were the story begins. However, the prophecy Oedipus receives is not a nice one; Oedipus is told he will kill his father, and sleep with his mother. This causes him to leave his adopted home and enter his new kingdom. Ultimately and accidentally, Oedipus fulfills his tragic curse, and takes the kingdom down with him.
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This is true for Oedipus Rex because it begins with Oedipus as King living his wealthy life with his wife, kids, and servants. In an unfortunate turn of events, Oedipus realizes that he fulfilled his prophecy of killing his father and sleeping with his mother. Bad turns to worse, Oedipus's wife kills herself, his eyes are gauged out, and he is exiling himself away from his