Oedipus Rex: Tragic Hero and Fate

Oedipus is a classic example of a tragic hero:
- He is a noble and virtuous character (King of Thebes)
- He has a flaw (hamartia) - hubris (excessive pride)
- His downfall is caused by his own actions (unintentionally killing his father and marrying his mother)
- He suffers a tragic fate, but ultimately accepts responsibility for his actions

The play explores the debate between fate and free will:
- Fate: The prophecy made by the Oracle of Apollo (Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother) suggests that fate is predetermined and inevitable
- Free Will: Oedipus' actions, such as leaving Corinth and killing the stranger at the crossroads, seem to be the result of his own choices and decisions
- The play ultimately suggests that fate is inescapable, but human beings still have a degree of free will and responsibility for their actions

Oedipus Rex was written by Sophocles in the 5th century BCE:
- Part of a trilogy, including Antigone and Oedipus at Colonus
- Performed in ancient Athens, likely in the Theater of Dionysus
- Featured a chorus, masks, and minimal scenery
- Explored themes of tragedy, morality, and the human condition

The play makes use of dramatic irony, where the audience knows something that the characters do not:
- The audience knows that Oedipus is the one who killed Laius and married Jocasta, but the characters do not
- This creates tension and suspense, as the audience waits for the characters to discover the truth
- Dramatic irony is used to highlight the themes of fate and the inevitability of tragedy