Oedipus Rex a Play Created to Purge Society of Unwanted Emotions
To inspire, pity, fear and promote catharsis
From the play Oedipus Rex, the contemporary reader can draw conclusions about the political and social contexts of the time. The ancient Greeks believed the Gods were always present, and their actions were determined by them. Oedipus’s tragic fate is a perfect exemplar to the contemporary reader, of the beliefs of the fifth century ancient Athenians. This article highlights the political and social context surrounding the play and Aristotle’s view on the functions of theatre, through the various themes and symbols and the characteristics of Greek tragedy.
Theatre had an important role in society in fifth-century Athens, which took a moralistic approach. ‘Oedipus Rex’ is a classic example of a play created to inspire, pity and fear and to purge society of unwanted emotions, according to the theories of Aristotle.
In fifth-century Athens, only men counted as citizens. Although it can not be confirmed, women did not usually appear in the Athenian audience. Instead only the ruling class and men considered of importance attended the ritual. The same can be said for the actors, as all were male in the Greek theatre. The tragic theatre of this time was a religious gathering and a ceremony for worship. Dionysia were the…
