Final answer:
Aristotle's principles of tragedy and the use of allusion in works like Sophocles' Oedipus the King create a powerful emotional experience for the audience, centered around the tragic hero's journey from nobility to downfall.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aristotle's identification of the core components of tragedy—Plot, Character, Diction, Thought, Spectacle, and Song—has profoundly influenced the understanding and creation of tragic drama. In his examination of Sophocles' Oedipus the King, Aristotle illuminates how these elements intertwine to evoke strong emotions from the audience and bring about a cathartic experience. Sophocles skillfully uses allusion to enhance the depth of the story, enabling audiences of his time to draw on their knowledge of myths and history while reflecting on contemporary societal issues.
Central to the tragic experience is the tragic hero, a character of noble stature who, due to a fatal flaw (or hamartia), experiences a fall from grace. This fall is accompanied by peripeteia (reversal of fortune), leading to anagnorisis (recognition of the true situation), which results in the audience's catharsis—the purgation of emotions like pity and fear. The allusions in the story resonate with the audience, drawing on shared cultural knowledge and heightening the emotional stakes of the protagonist's journey.
Oedipus, for example, seeks to serve the greater community by solving the murder of the former king, thus dealing with a subject of relevance beyond personal gains. However, his quest for justice turns out to be his downfall as it leads to the revelation of his own crimes, fulfilling the tragic formula. It is this combination of character, action, and allusion that enhances the plot and ultimately defines the power and endurance of Greek tragedy as a genre.