Irony In Oedipus The King

Oedipus Rex has become one of the most famous tragic play that men ever know. The story is known to all as a story where a man has done terrible deeds: he kills his father and marries his mother. Throughout the play, Sophocles uses irony to show readers who actually Oedipus is and the tragic fate he bears. By the use of irony, the readers can better understand why Oedipus is persistent to know the nature of his birth and that nothing good comes out of it (Zyzik, 2012). There are many examples of ironies demonstrated in the play, such as Oedipus’ curse for Laios’ murderer, his insult to the blind oracle, his choice to leave Corinth, and his ability to solve riddles. The ironies are also shown through other characters like Iocaste and the messenger. The examples above also point out the fate that Oedipus should bear since all of things that he intends to do always end up with very different results as if he is only a puppet of fate that is incapable of doing anything to his own will (Naeem, 2014). Therefore, the ironies in Oedipus Rex are used to strengthen the main theme of the play, which is fate.

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Teiresias is called to the palace to tell them the truth behind the murder. However, he refuses to answer it that makes Oedipus angry. Oedipus ridicules him by pronouncing that he is “a sightless, witless, senseless, mad old man” (153). By saying that, Oedipus emphasizes the difference between Teiresias and himself. Ironically, he does not know that although by nature Teiresias is blind but the oracle can see the truth about his identity. On the contrary, Oedipus is a sighted man who is blind to the truth right before him. In addition, at the end of the play Oedipus blinds himself when he finally realizes the truth of the blind man 's words. He is also led by someone else to exit the palace since he is blind, just like what happens to Teiresias when he leaves the