Skip to main content

Where does pathos occur in Oedipus Rex?

In Greek, the word "pathos" means suffering or emotion. Usually when we use the term pathos to describe a technique used by writers of literary works, we mean that something in the work evokes the emotional response of the audience; typically, the audience feels sad, emotional, regretful, or sympathetic as a result of something depicted on stage. In Oedipus Rex, even though the tragic hero Oedipus has committed some heinous crimes (killing his own...

In Greek, the word "pathos" means suffering or emotion. Usually when we use the term pathos to describe a technique used by writers of literary works, we mean that something in the work evokes the emotional response of the audience; typically, the audience feels sad, emotional, regretful, or sympathetic as a result of something depicted on stage. In Oedipus Rex, even though the tragic hero Oedipus has committed some heinous crimes (killing his own father, bearing children with his own mother) and is a flawed character (he is arrogant, short-sighted, and has a temper), he is also seen as a good leader of his city and has committed most of his crimes without full knowledge of what he was doing.


Most of the pathos in Oedipus Rex is seen in Part II as Oedipus begins to realize that he is the one responsible for the plague on Thebes and must follow his own order and be exiled. The scene when Oedipus returns to the stage after blinding himself is truly pathetic. The audience can see through Oedipus's self-mutilation and can hear through lines like "What can I see to love? / What greeting can touch my ears with joy?" (1398-99; David Grene translation) how deeply Oedipus feels his shame and guilt.


Another scene that effectively captures pathos both in the sense of the character's suffering and of the audience's pity for the character is when Oedipus interacts with his children for the final time. Oedipus begs Creon to take care of his children, particularly his daughters, and has to bid them farewell forever as he is exiled. The audience can't help but feel sorry for Oedipus as he claims he can feel no joy again and will never see his children after this day.

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more