Analysis of Oedipus Rex Essay

Deeper Look in to the World Oedipus Rex

A playwright that survives thousands of years is not common and has a special criterion that makes it great. In the tragedy Oedipus Rex written by Sophocles, these special criteria come together to make one of the worlds greatest tragedies known to man and will never become obsolete. Sophocles brings the level of dramatic irony to new standards in the writing community because in the story each line is taken and given multiple meanings with similes and metaphors. The writing asks each reader how they rate the responsibility they have to other people against the responsibility to themselves. With Oedipus Rexs complex structure of dramatic irony, use of figures of speech and questions the story asks the reader to answer within themselves.

Sophocles use of dramatic irony is present throughout the entire story. He allows the audience to know the truth while Oedipus is still coming to learn who he really is. During the entire story the audience has no respite about his past. This provides the reader with suspenseful moments of anticipation for the majority of the story. This is observed when Oedipus curses the murderer of King Lauis by saying, I pray that that mans life be consumed in evil / and wretchedness (1.1. 234). While Oedipus is saying the curse, readers are cringing with frustration for knowing what his words mean for himself. The readers are becoming apprehensive about the future of Oedipus. Another example is when Oedipus threatens Creon for wanting to take his place being King of Thebes and while doing so making Creon an enemy (2.Exodus. 1362-1467). The audience knows the truth of this debacle and then sees that when the story reaches its ending Creon gets his retribution.

Though the usage of dramatic irony is impressive, few writings compares to the brilliant similes, metaphors, and personification used in Oedipus Rex. This work of art is all but ingenuous. Some lines can be classified into more than one group. An example of a metaphor and personification is Your own eyes/ Must tell you: Thebes is tossed on a murdering sea/ And cannot lift her head from the death surge said by the Priest (1.Prolgue. 25-27). The passage is a metaphor because of the comparison made between Thebes and a drowning ship and their plague to a murdering sea. While at the same time the piece is a personification because Thebes is compared to drowning, which is a human quality. An illustration of a simile is O cloud if night,/ Never to be turned away: night coming on,/ I cannot tell how: night like a shroud! said by Oedipus (2.Exodos. 1265-1267). The comparison is between the night and a shroud. Each figure of speech in the lines of Oedipus Rex brings more meaning into the writing. The more understood a piece is, the more feelings you have for the story.

Each meaning read in between the lines of this tragedy not only tells a story, but also asks a question. Oedipus Rex asks the reader not one, but two poignant questions. What will you do to find the truth of our pasts and how do you place the responsibility of others against yourself? Oedipus is willing to go through any means in the story to find out his true identity, and how his past is going to shape his future. When faced with hurting his wife or coming closer to the truth, he chooses the truth. Jocasta expresses this meaning while saying For Gods love, let us have no more questioning! / Is your life nothing to you? / My own is pain enough for me to bear (2.4. 1003-1005). At the beginning of the story Oedipus is willing to do anything to help his people and end them of their plague. Oedipus communicates this message by saying, What act or pledge of mine may save the city (1.Prolouge. 75). At the beginning he does every action possible to help his people and keeps his promise by the end even if he destroyed himself in the process.

Oedipus Rex has an excellent use of dramatic irony, arranges figurative language to perfection, and asks each reader questions that make up who they are. Sophocles use of dramatic irony is planned with perfection to cause the audience more anticipation than expected. The figurative language used brings more meaning and compassion into the story than without them. Oedipus compassion for his people and courage to find the truth makes each reader ask themselves if they would do the same. Oedipus Rex is one of the worlds greatest tragedies and has been read by countless numbers of people through the two thousand years it has been present because of the beauty existing in its words.