CC - II : Peripeteia /Anagnorisis/Hamartia

Peripeteia /Anagnorisis/Hamartia 

or "The most effective form of discovery is that which is accompanied by reversals, like the one in Oedipus "- comment  on the plot of the play in the light of this remark

Aristotle, the Greek philosopher and dramatic critic, in his poetics defines the Greek terms 'Peripeteia' as 'the reversal of the situation '. This is a term used to describe plot twists in literary works ,like the Greek Tragedy "Oedipus the king" by Sophocles .The entire plot of the play revolves around a hidden truth that-king Oedipus murdered his father and married his mother. At the beginning of the play, king Oedipus does not know this truth. He is a good king who tries get rid of his plague-ridden city Thebes by following a prophecy(of Apollo)to find Laius's killer. Tiresias, the blind prophet, tells Oedipus -"thou art the murderer of the man whose murderer thou pursuest". But Oedipus refuses to believe Tiresias at first. This leads him down a path to find the truth. the final piece of this puzzle is in discovering who Oedipus's parents(i.e. Polybus and Merope)are not actually his parents .the last thing he has to know that his real parents. The last thing he has to know that his real parents are Laius and Jocasta and realize then that he has actually killed his father and married his mother .

                                        In Sophocles, Oedipus the king, 'Peripeteia' occurs towards the end of the play, there by suggesting a change from one state of affairs to its exact opposite which should be in  conformity with probability or necessity. In the play, the Corinthian messenger comes to Oedipus by relieving him of fear with regard to his mother, but by revealing his true identity, does just the opposite of this. It is this news that devastated Oedipus. Now Oedipus realise the truth. It is his moment of Peripeteia and he says-"... All out! All know....o light! May I never look on you again, Revealed as I am, sinful in marriage, sin in shading of blood".

                           It goes without saying that this sudden changes in situation in what causes the ultimate conflict and tension in the Play. In this respect, it is the climax of the play. It makes the downfall of the protagonist as it changes Oedipus from the mighty and somewhat arrogant in your kings to a figure of woe.

                Aristotle started that the best plot should have surprised by way of both Peripeteia(the reversal of fortune) and Anagnorisis (the discovery of Truth). In this respect, Sophocles' Oedipus the king is a perfect example. In this play, the the plot became increasingly complex as it carries along, until the moment of discovery is made, and the fortune is reversed. At this point, the complexity diminishes, the loose ends are tied up and conclusion is found. In Oedipus the king, as the plot progresses, so does the complexity Oedipus is told he murdered King Laius Jocasta describes to Oedipus how Laius was killed; then Oedipus thinks he may actually have done it-Oedipus learns his father (Polybus) is dead, but it was not his real father Jocasta realized the baby she asked a shepherd to kill, was not actually killed-Oedipus searches about the shepherd to hear the truth, he killed  his father and married his mother.

           it was not until the final discovery is made that the complexity just melts away. As soon as Anagnorisis occurs, his fortune is reversed, and conclusion swiftly follows. This revelation of truth brings Oedipus passed down from the height of glory and try to the state of unhappiness and misery. The speech of the chorus brings it out-

                    ".... With what supreme sureness of aim...Grasped every prize....All Thebes was proud of the majesty of his name..... And now, where is More a heart-rending story of affliction?"

           Undoubtedly, it is the analysis which leads to Oedipus's reversal fortune and thereby, brings about his downfall.