Elements of Greek drama are presented in Oedipus the king to make the audience feel something toward the characters. Peripeteia is the sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances, especially in reference to fictional narrative. Catharsis is the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions. These two elements simply bring emotion to the audience because the audience sees a character experience a turning point. In the tragedy Oedipus the king, Sophocles uses peripeteia in Oedipus, Jocasta and Creon to bring catharsis to the audience. When the audience experiences catharsis they gain a connection with the story.
Oedipus’ change of circumstances stemmed from many things he did early on. A curse…show more content… In this tragedy Oedipus wanted to end this mystery of the death of Laius, in order to end the terrible curse that had come over him. In doing so Oedipus passes an act that states anyone who holds back information will be killed. He enhances his power as king. His impatience was a key point that led to his own conviction along with the fact that Oedipus’ had no idea he was the one who killed Laius. When this information comes to light the audience is intrigued by Oedipus’ unknowingly insane action.
Oedipus has an eagerness to acknowledge truth in all situations. When Tiresias, a blind prophet informs Oedipus he is in fact the one who killed Laius, he becomes a suspect in the case. He acknowledges that he might have been involved in the murder when he thinks about the circumstances surrounding the situation. Oedipus talks to his wife Jocasta about what the prophet had said and she informs him not to worry because prophets are not always right. Jocasta tells Oedipus of how a prophet said she would have a child with Laius who would grow up to kill Laius and marry her. She went on to say that what the prophet said was not possible because they had that child killed. At that very moment he thinks about how he was adopted and once told that this very situation would happen. The audience becomes interested in knowing how Jocasta had not realized that Oedipus was her