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Oedipus Rex is a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles based upon an ancient story in Greek mythology. Sophocles, knowing that his audience is aware of the outcome of the play, creates various situations in which dramatic and verbal irony play key roles. Irony then plays a key part in the Oedipus Rex tragedy. The downfall of Oedipus happens due to the tragic flaw of his character. His need to know the truth, and have the proof that it was indeed the truth also led to his ruin.
Oedipus took great pride in saving people and being seen a hero. He wanted the death of Laius to be avenged and he had to be the one to find the murderer and punish him. Ill fight for him, Ill leave no means untried, to cach the one who did it with his hand... (Literature, Oedipus the King, Ln. 70-71, page 1081) He did not want to let the people of Thebes down, and he wanted to show that he would be a true hero once again.
Oedipus was in pursuit of the truth to find out what really happened with his birth and life. Oedipus was searching for the truth and needed to know all the facts in order to convict the murderer. Ah! All of it was destined to be true! (Literature, Oedipus the King, Ln. 1187, page 1104) When he did finally learn the actual truth it struck him hard and he realized everything was now falling apart. Oedipus had character flaws that led to his downfall. His temper, his arrogant pride, and his complusive need to know the truth drove him to destruction. His search for justice ended up with him finding out the truth that was very inconceivable to him. It pushed him over the edge, and there was no way for him to escape from his mistakes.
Through his use of irony Sophocles manages to avoid simply retelling an old tale, though the audience is cognizant of the story’s end they are intrigued by the irony present in the story. For instance when Oedipus pronounces his curse upon the head of King Laius’s murderer in the opening scenes of the play
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So will I fight on the gods’ side,
And on the side of the slain man!
But my curse be on the one who did this, whether he is alone
Or conceals his share in it with others.
Let him be free of no misery if he share my house
Or sit at my hearth and I have knowledge of it.
On myself may it fall, as I have called it down!
-Oedipus from Oedipus Rex
When Oedipus pronounces this sentence he has already unwittingly judged himself, and to the excitement of the crowd foreshadowed later events to come. This statement, is a classic example of verbal irony. In it Oedipus thinking that he is directing his pronouncement upon some bandit, or conspirator, in all actuality he is truly condemning himself. Further examples of irony include his speech when he first answers the chorus “…Because of all these things I will fight for him as I would my own murdered father.” The irony inherent in this speech that Oedipus makes to the chorus lies for the most part in this single line, since the murdered King Laius is his father.
Sophocles does not reserve his use of irony to verbal irony, but he also ranges into areas of irony dramatic in nature. The entire play could be said to be an example of this, after all throughout the entire play Oedipus is unaware of the fate that awaits him, even though the viewer is intensely aware that Oedipus the King will become Oedipus the Beggar.
Sophocles often wrote scripts for events in mythology that were common knowledge to the populace that viewed his productions. In order to keep these audiences returning for more, Sophocles made liberal use of irony. By doing this he tantalized the viewer into wanting to see how the events that occurred later would mentally affect the main character, in this case Oedipus.
The irony inherent in this speech that Oedipus makes to the chorus lies for the most part in this single line, since the murdered King Laius is his
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