How is Oedipus an example of a classic tragedy?

Introduction

Oedipus first hint that he might be more involved in the misfortune of his city than he thought came from Teresias, who told him: “I say you are the murderer of the king whose murderer you seek.” But there is nothing Oedipus has ever done such that he would deserve the round of unfortunate events of his childhood that led to the even more unfortunate events of the play. As just a baby boy, Oedipus's parents knew the future they were fated to have and tried to have the infant “done away” with.

It is no fault of Oedipus's that his parents tried to do this. In attempt to punish Laius murderer, Oedipus is truly his own jury, judge and executioner. From early in the play when Teiresias tells Oedipus that the murderer “shall be proved father and brother both to his own children in his house; to her that gave him birth, a son and husband both...” to the moment the herdsman informs Oedipus that he is guilty of both those conditions, he searches for and prosecutes the murderer, who unfortunately turns out to be he himself.

How is Oedipus an example of a classic tragedy?

According to the words of Aristotle, Oedipus is considered to be a good example of a Greek tragedy. This is because the structure consisted of a plot, character and song. A good tragedy must have a well-constructed plot. The plot in Oedipus included the aspect of reversal, for example, when Oedipus finds out the truth about whom his real parents were, it is expected that he would have a good reaction. Instead, an opposite reaction is created, because he then realizes that the prophecy of him killing his father, and marrying his mother has come to past ...