Unlike the other texts we've read so far in this class, Oedipus the King is a play. The diction used here is very distinctive. Rather than getting straight to the point the characters babble on and on about a simple request/idea. The syntax is also quite interesting. Lots of dashes and dots ...
Anyways! Hamartia is present in many of Oedipus' actions. If he would have never killed the stranger he met (which turned out to be his father), then there wouldn't have been such a problem. It doesn't stop there though. Oedipus begins to create an even bigger problem by seeking to uncover the past. He even sends for Teiresias. What a bad idea! Because he doesn't know who he is, this leads to his downfall.
I believe catharsis occurs when Oedipus thinks back on his past and realizes to himself that he has killed Laius. Although he hasn't yet confirmed it, him and I both know that he did it. Oedipus went through quite some trouble just to find Laius' killer (which was himself) that there must have been some type of relief whether it be good or bad. In this case I would guess bad. He's probably regretting making such a big deal out of the whole thing now.
There was definitely some pathos going on when I finally realized that he was the one who committed the crime. The poor guy is so confused! I mean he killed his father and married his own mother without a clue. They even had children together man. How sickening ..
What does he do now?
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