dramatic irony in oedipus rex
In the Greek tragedy, "Oedipus The King," by Sophocles, a detective story emerges, and a style of writing is used very effectively. This style that Sophocles used is his play was dramatic irony. This is when the reader has more knowledge of what is really happened before the characters can even find out themselves. As the murder mystery unfolds before the reader, Sophocles uses dramatic irony to keep the reader on the inside throughout the entire play, so that they are never clueless to what has really happened. During the play, a murder is discovered early on. Sophocles uses much dramatic irony to have the reader clued in before the character. There are many examples throughout the first couple of scenes. When Teiresias, the holy prophet comes into scene I, we learn of Oedipus being the murderer of King Laios. We are told this before Oedipus even knows that he killed this king. Sophocles explains this when he uses Teiresias to foreshadow that Oedipus is the murderer. Teiresias says, "You yourself are the pollution of this country"
(line 135). Again he says on line 162, "Creon is no threat, you weave you own doom." By him making these comments towards Oedipus we are learning that it is Oedipus that is the villain. By use of dramatic irony the reader will discover the truth before the character. Later on in the scene, Teiresias says, "You can not see the wretchedness of your own life." This is just yet another example of the author showing the reader that Oedipus is the villain. It becomes obvious to the reader that the king who was murdered, was really Oedipus's father. By use of dramatic irony the reader discovers this before the character. The reader learns of this when Teiresias asks, "Who are your Father and Mother? Can you tell me?" In the final paragraph of the scene this point valid is proved valid when Teiresias says, While the mystery is no longer a mystery to the reader, Oedipus is still discovering. Sophocles used dramatic irony to let the reader know before the character. At the same time as the reader discovering that King Laios was Oedipus's
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 701
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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