The Importance Of Catharsis In Oedipus Rex

In Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, it was said during class that the moment of catharsis was just after Oedipus realizes he is the one who killed his father. The class agreed that the reader was relieved when Oedipus came to comprehend that he was lying to himself the entire time because he was the one responsible for Laius’ death. Catharsis was defined as a moment or breath of relief. I do not agree with his moment of realization as the point where catharsis is reached.

I believe that after he punishes himself as a result of his realization. The reader already can infer that Oedipus is the murder and that his wife, Jocasta, is really his biological mother. The reader and Oedipus was given many warning signals that were point to the culprit the whole time. It does not come as a surprise when Oedipus is unmasked as the unknown killer of his father, Laius. Due to the reader already having an idea of Oedipus’ guilt, the breathe of relief was not achieved in this situation. It can almost be assumed that sooner or later Oedipus will accept that he is the

Unlike the foreshadowing of Oedipus being the killer, this moment does not have any trigger warning before the event takes place. I believe this is the moment of catharsis because it was a time where the reader could truly see that Oedipus was taking the situation serious and stopped trying to deny the truth. It was a relief to find that Oedipus did not try to escape the reality of the situation like he was trying to accomplish previously. The reader did not get any justice from just him discovering he was the killer. When he blinds himself, it is the justice the reader is seeking. All of the events are leading up to this moment. The reader knows that Oedipus will finally come to terms with his fate, but what he is planning to do once this happens is uncharted territory. The time after the repercussions from his mistake are when catharsis