Dramatic Irony in Oedipus Essay

Sophocles Oedipus the King is one of the most recognized tragedies of Greek drama, written about 430 B.C, and performed in Athens. Briefly, in the play, Oedipus, the main character, accidentally kills his father, King Laius and marries his mother after solving the riddle of the Sphinx and taking the seat of the king. Mainly, the play is all about Oedipuss tragedian story. This last finally ends up paying very harshly for what has happened. Throughout the play, especially in its first part, and the title itself, the audience is aware of many circumstances Oedipus himself is not. Grammatically speaking, Sophocles often makes use of dramatic irony. In other words, the spectators are placed one step ahead of Oedipus himself. Thus, the use of dramatic irony is one central feature of the play. Even through the title of the play, Oedipus the Tyrant, Sophocles exploits dramatic irony because of several essential reasons.

The use of dramatic irony can mostly be noticed in the prologue and the first scene. Various times, quotes have a different or a larger meaning for the audience that for Oedipus himself. Pointing out at dramatic irony, the title has principally this important feature. As Sophocles states in his title, Oedipus is the tyrant. However, are his roles and characteristics in the play actually the one of a tyrant? To begin with, a tyrant has the power in his peoples life. This last can whenever he desires kill someone or help him or her. Nevertheless, in this play, the circumstances are quite different. It is in reality Oedipuss own life that is in danger. Right through the play, as he tries and succeeds to find out Laiuss murderer, it is his own reputation that is in peril since every people of Thebes would find out he was the killer. Here is when dramatic irony shows up. Oedipus himself is not aware of the fact that he is the one who accidentally killed Laius, who was in fact his real father. Additionally, a tyrant should be informed of everything that has happened and happens in his land. In the case of Oedipus, who is according to the title a tyrant, he does not know that much. On the other hand, Sophocles public and readers are aware of most of the important facts Oedipus does not know and is trying to figure out. Apart from the title, different valuable quotes expressing the idea of dramatic irony can be taken out from the play.

As cited earlier, it seems strange he does not even know how the king who was ruling his land before him got killed. What an irony? The public and the readers know all about it, and Oedipus himself does not! Thus, numerous quotes from the play Oedipus the King are selected, showing this very special feature. In some of them, Oedipus himself does not even have a clue about what it is being said and the public knows it in details. The first fact though coming to mind is the fact that Oedipus himself does not know the reason for a plague to invade Thebes. As he says at the very beginning of the play: Oh my children, the new blood of ancient Thebes, why are you here? At this point, the public actually knows that all the problems that have come in Thebes are in fact here because of himself. Additionally, in his quote Oedipus calls his people, the new blood of ancient Thebes. Is not Oedipus himself the new blood on ancient Thebes? Here, Oedipus, as the main character of the play, is not aware of himself being the actual child of the ancient king, Laius. Moreover, when during the play, they cam about to know that the plague in Thebes has occurred because of the murder of king Laius, Oedipus states that had he been present at the there (at the murder), there would have been no misery (249) about who is the actual killer. Ironically, Oedipus was in fact present and is no stranger to this crime as he states in line 249 of the play. In addition, was he got mad with Teiresias, Oedipus treated him as a child of endless night. However, is not Oedipus himself the child of endless night? Is not Oedipuss birth a mystery for himself? In point of fact, Sophocles here uses dramatic irony since the readers, as a public knows the details of each fact that has occurred before. On the other hand, Oedipus himself is not aware of any of his past stories

In conclusion, Sophocles often makes use of dramatic irony throughout Oedipus the King and lets his public have more information than his characters. Throughout the play, the theme of dramatic irony plays a significant role. Oedipuss sayings and actions would be hardly understood without the public or readers knowledge of the past details about Oedipus. Since the readers are aware of Oedipus past, it becomes easy for them to understand the pay in fact and not be confused. On the other hand however, it takes out the effect of suspense a usual tragedy evokes. Since the readers are aware of the characters past, they would easily imagine what he would endure and how this last would figure out what has truly happened. Thus, Sophocles exploitation of dramatic irony plays an important role in this famous Greek play, Oedipus the King.