Sophocles' wrote this Dramatic Irony using themes of fate and blindness. As the story unfolds,

it's quite evident Oedipus did in fact kill his Father and marry his Mother, just as an Oracle had

predicted. Oedipus is portrayed to be self-confident, intelligent, and strong-willed. Ironically it

was these very traits that brought him to his demise.

It's ironic that Oedipus solved the Sphinx's riddle, "What goes on four legs in the

morning, two at noon, and three at evening?" (1253) with the reply of "Man". Sophocles wrote

this riddle as a metaphor of Oedipus' life. As a baby crawling on all fours, as a matured man

only using two legs; upon reaching the later days of life, three, two legs and the use of a cane.

Oedipus gained kingship of Thebes by solving this riddle that was preventing the country of

solving the murder of it's King, Laios. "Made us deaf to all mysteries but her own." (1259). To

solve a riddle that condenses Oedipus' life, to become ruler of a land who's king was murdered

by that very man, it's a sign that fate is rearing it's ugly head. He then calls a curse on the person

who killed the King, in essence calling the curse upon h

discover the truth. His tragic discovery was not from evil acts, but because of the person he was.

Oedipus was born to fulfill this prophecy; once determined, no human could have prevented it.

outwit the gods by giving the young Oedipus to a Shepherd to kill upon hearing the oracle that

determination and pride kept him at Thebes to continue his search.

exile upon his own will. It was at this point he realized his faults of not following fate. His fall

with his staff..." (1267) This theme is also prevalent when all the evidence points to Oedipus as

choosing not to see. Once Iocaste finally sees the truth and begs Oedipus to stop investigating,

threatens him until the Profit finally in frustration tells what he "sees". Since Oedipus was blind

He does accept responsibility and the punishment as set out by Apollo. Upon the

Some common words found in the essay are:
King Laios, King Polybus, Mother Oracle, Profit Oedipus', Oedipus Shepherd, Polybus Corinth, Dramatic Irony, Oedipus King, king laios, Delphi Oedipus, Laios Oedipus, kill father, father marry, father marry mother, kill father marry, marry mother, oracle told king, oedipus' life, oracle told, original oracle, oedipus kill, king polybus, original oracle told, told king, told king laios,
Approximate Word count = 1037
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)