Theme Of Dramatic Irony In Oedipus The King - 1057 Words

Rachel Cedano World Humanities 101 Professor Hoffman October 30th, 2017 Double the Tragic Throughout the entire play, Oedipus the king by Sophocles dramatic irony. Dramatic irony is when audience is aware what is happening but the character is not. Sophocles uses dramatic irony to show us Oedipus’s character and what is expected to occur. The intention of using irony also allows us to sustain our interest in the play and keep us intrigued by what’s happening. Ironically, the play begins with dramatic irony. Suddenly after the death of King Laius, A plague has hit the city of Thebes. Since Oedipus was the only one who managed to solve the riddle of Sphinx, the people of Thebes depended on his authority to help. Since he saved them†¦show more content†¦Oedipus being ignorant about this situation and proclaims Tiresias is lying, refusing to even listen. Tiresias hints to Oedipus that he is living with a curse which is being married with his mother, Jocasta and killing his father. Here the dramatic irony is even though Tiresias is blind he knows the truth but Oedipus is blind to see the truth in his situation. â€Å" Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free† (John 8:32). In relation to Oedipus, if he did understood and knew the truth then he would be living a better life instead living in tragedy. Similarly to Athena, Tiresias guided the one in struggle. In this case, Oedipus struggles to realize whats th e truth and what isn’t. Towards the end, the irony leads to Oedipus physically blinding himself. His hubris lead to all the wrongs happening that he clearly struggled to see. When he finally realizes it, he decides to blind himself with golden brooches from Jocasta after she commits suicide from finding out the truth. Throughout the epic of Odyssey, the tragic hero, Odysseus has a variety of relationships with the characters of the play. But interacted more with the gods during his time of struggle. In general, Gods have a huge role on human life, but here most importantly Odysseus. While Odysseus was trapped in the island for many years because Calypso wanted to be with him. The people of Ithaca presuming their king was dead bringing suitorsShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Irony In Oedipus The King827 Words   |  4 PagesThe presence of irony in â€Å"Myth† by Muriel Rukeyser, â€Å"My Oedipus Complex† by Frank O’Connor, and â€Å"Oedipus the King† by Sophocles link these three literary pieces together. However, each of the works utilize different forms of irony in different levels to specifically present their message. In Rukeyser’s short poem, the narrator uses verbal irony through Oedipus’ conversation with the Sphinx and dramatic irony through Oedipusâ€⠄¢ shorthanded conclusions. O’Connor uses situational irony in his short storyRead MoreEssay on Sophocles Clever Use of Dramatic Irony in Oedipus the King831 Words   |  4 PagesDramatic irony depends on the audience’s knowing something that the character does not, and in this play the audience knows Oedipus faith before he knows it himself. In this play there are several parts where Sophocles conveys his plot through dramatic irony. Dramatic irony underlines how partial human perceptive can be even when it is most reasonable and how agonizing it can be to be the costs of the misinterpretation, in some sense foreseeable. Dramatic irony is also use by Sophocles to make theRead MoreOedipus The King Theme Essay1076 Words   |  5 Pages Oedipus the King: Themes of Blindness and Sight in the Sophocles Oedipus the King What does it mean to truly see? Do those blessed with normal vision really see? 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