Theme Of Dramatic Irony In Oedipus - 1400 Words

Sophocles uses irony in his writing to prove only fate controls ones life and not free will. The dramatic irony asserting the reader that the prophecy had indeed come true before Oedipus even knows it further proves that fate controls the lives of mortals. Teiresias uses irony to proclaim to Oedipus â€Å"that with those you love best you live in foulest shame unconsciously and do not see where you are in calamity (633).Teiresias used dramatic irony by telling Oedipus how his life contains a path of shame yet he does not believe him. Every time that Oedipus does not believe another person who tells him of the shame that approaches in the near future the reader becomes more aware of the situation and the dramatic irony becomes more and†¦show more content†¦However, the irony is quite evident when the prophecy itself had come true it was simply unclear to Jocasta and Oedipus at the time. Try and Try as one might they will never be able to alter a prophecy for they never contr olled their own free will. The irony included that they believed that it worked that they were free but no one may truly free themselves from fate. The Literary element, Irony, suggests fate as the overpowering force in Oedipus and does so by proving one may never alter a prophecy and immortals control all mortals. Sophocles used Character development methods in his writing to prove only fate controls ones life and not free will. Oedipus first revealed to the reader as a self-absorbed arrogant man who has received more credit than deserved, simply for beating the sphinx. Sophocles gives the reader this impression of Oedipus by Oedipus describing himself as â€Å" Oedipus whom all men call the Great† (621). Oedipus claiming that all men call him the great proves that Oedipus acquired a self-absorbed mentality when the reader reads on realizing that not one character throughout the story calls him â€Å"The Great† beside himself. Oedipus did not choose to beShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Dramatic Irony In Oedipus The King1057 Words   |  5 Pagesentire 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. T he 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 theRead More The Role of Teiresias in Sophocles Oedipus Rex Essay1410 Words   |  6 Pagesdestruction that Oedipus will encounter after he learns the truths of his life. Teiresias is also responsible for further developing the theme of blindness by using his own physical blindness to reveal to Oedipus his mental blindness. Lastly, Teiresias is ultimately responsible for imposing dramatic irony because of his great knowledge of the truth of Oedipus. In the play, Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, the minor character of Teiresias is responsible for foreshadowing Oedipus’ fate, developing the theme of blindnessRead MoreTheme 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 Sophocle s 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 Oedipus’ 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 S ophocles to make theRead MoreThroughout most famous Greek literature, a great hero usually saves the day. In the story of900 Words   |  4 Pagesusually saves the day. 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