Reinterpreting Classical Narrative through Complex Systems Theory: A Computational Analysis of Sophocles' Oedipus the King

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Complex systems theory addresses systems where multiple components interact to generate emergent patterns and behaviors, offering new perspectives for narrative interpretation. This study applies Marie-Laure Ryan's complex systems narrative analysis methodology to Sophocles' Oedipus the King, exploring new interpretive possibilities for traditional classical narratives. The research methodology employs character network analysis, situation-event causal structure analysis, and analysis of relationships between temporal order and causal logic to measure eight quantitative complexity indicators. The analysis reveals that Oedipus exhibits a paradoxical structure: while classified as a Mount Fuji-type landscape, it demonstrates high emergent potential (0.617). The perfect temporal-causal convergence (0.000 divergence) reflects Sophocles' classical dramatic technique, while achieving cognitive complexity through high revelation density (0.417). Four major existing interpretative theories—Aristotle's catharsis, Freud's unconscious desire, Propp's social order conflict, and Lévi-Strauss's structural repetition—are found to capture different dimensions of complexity (emotional, psychological, social, and structural, respectively). This demonstrates that previously considered mutually exclusive interpretations are actually complementary, illuminating the multilayered characteristics of a single complex system. This study extends the application of complex systems theory to traditional classics and presents new methodological possibilities for digital humanities.