Oedipus Journal 5

Sophocles evokes fear in the audience by the sheer absurdity of the situation. The plot, in which Oedipus marries his mother, is somewhat horrifying to all who read this book. This act evokes fear in its readers because, according to some psychologists, all people have an unconscious desire as a child to have sex with their mothers(if boys) or their fathers(if girls). In Oedipus, this unconscious desire is brought to the surface, portrayed through the life story of someone else. This open discussion of a subject that is completely unacceptable in real life, but which all people supposedly have the unconscious desire for, is difficult for people to understand. As a result, they become fearful. This fear is used to evoke empathy for Oedipus. This empathy leads to pity for Oedipus' situation.
The other main way that Sophocles evokes fear and pity in his audience is through Oedipus' guilt for causing his family so much pain. Oedipus could not have known about the prophecy, and upon fulfilling it did so without any intentions of doing anything harmful to anyone. However, having found out that he has fulfilled it, Oedipus cannot bear the agony of the truth, and blames himself completely for bringing this trouble upon his family. Sophocles uses Oedipus' terrible situation and his reaction to his agony(gouging his eyes out) as a way to evoke fear. He uses Oedipus' extreme guilt for something that wasn't really his fault as a way to evoke pity from the audience. Sophocles' evocation of fear and pity from the audience speaks to the audience in a way that simply telling the story cannot-he forces the audience to delve into their own minds, and draws out empathy by creating situations which the audience imagine themselves in.