Sophocles_Dramatic_Irony

Sophocles’ play "Oedipus Rex" is a well known Greek tragedy, in which dramatic irony is used liberally and is an essential tool to the development of the play. Dramatic irony is what occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play. As a result of Sophocles' use of dramatic irony in "Oedipus Rex", readers are aware of the tragic truth before the characters within the story (particularly Oedipus himself) have any knowledge of it. Sophocles’ plays were based on mythological events that were common knowledge to the population of Greece during the so-called "Golden Period". As a result, the audience of Sophocles’ productions were already aware of the outcome of his plays. Sophocles uses dramatic irony by retelling an old tale, where the audience is aware of how the play will end, but is still intrigued by the irony present in the story. Sophocles uses dramatic irony throughout the play.  The audience feels pathos towards the main character, Oedipus, and by employing dramatic irony Sophocles creates suspense, even though the audience is aware of the outcome of the play. Oedipus makes a speech to comfort the grieving people of Thebes in which dramatic irony is invoked: . “Upon the murderer I invoke this curse - whether he is one man and all unknown, or one of many - may he wear out his life in misery to miserable doom!”[1] The people of Thebes come to Oedipus, their new king, asking him to rid the city of the plague that is causing death and destruction.  Oedipus tries to reassure the people of Thebes. He demands that the murderer of Laius, the former king of Thebes, reveal himself as he believes that the plague will only end when the assassin is banished. Yet in reality, he is unaware that it was he who killed Laius. Oedipus intends to curse this murderer, out of a deep sense of anger at not being able to denounce him personally. Little does he know that in cursing Laius’ murderer to live in wretchedness, he is actually cursing himself. Thus, Oedipus’ speech to the people of Thebes is an example of the use of dramatic irony in the play. Another example of dramatic irony in "Oedipus Rex" is when the old soothsayer, Tiresias, visits Oedipus. When Oedipus ridicules Tiresias’s for his blindness, Tiresias counters this with a criticism of his own. The angry prophet warns that while Oedipus can physically see, he is actually ‘blind’ of the truth. He predicts that Oedipus will physically become blind when he finally does "see" the truth. . “Your life is one long night so that you cannot hurt me or any other who sees the light.”[2] Oedipus intends to insult Tiresias’ blindness through these statements.   But Sophocles uses dramatic irony here to convey the message that it is Oedipus himself who lacks vision and will soon literally be blinded. It is also ironic that old Tiresias, who has no eyesight himself, could perceive reality more accurately than Oedipus, the king. Tiresias appearance in the play presents another case of dramatic irony because of Tiresias' better appreciation of the truth than Oedipus'. As a fortune teller, Tiresias is able to foretell the destruction of Oedipus’ life, that is soon to occur because of his quest to learn his own fate.  Irony is displayed throughout "Oedipus Rex" and is well drawn out by Tiresias. Even though completely blind physically Tiresias can see the "wretchedness" of Oedipus’ life, on the other hand, Oedipus, who has complete use of his sight, is totally blind to his past and of his fate. The extent of Oedipus’ mental blindness is assisted by his ongoing quest for the truths of his life, which in the end is the ruin of him. It is ironic that a man who is physically blind could see the suffering and madness that was to come to Oedipus due to his ongoing drive to know his fate. Once Oedipus learns the truth, he blinds himself as he cannot endure the pain and suffering that his quest for the truth has brought him. Throughout "Oedipus Rex" Tiresias demonstrates dramatic irony through the irony that Oedipus chose to blind himself, once his mental blindness to the truth had been overcome. Dramatic irony is also employed in the prophecies. The reader of "Oedipus Rex" knows about the prophecies of Oedipus’ life and what fate has in store for him. “Once long ago there came to Laius from-let’s not suppose Apollo personally but from his ministers: an oracle, which said that fate would make him meet his end through a son, a son of his and mine. Well, there was a murder, yes; but done by foreign highwaymen-they say-where three highways meet. And secondly, the son, he at three days old is left by Laius upon a trackless hillside, his ankles linked together.”[3] Jocasta tells Oedipus this story, in the hope that her husband/son will stop believing in seers, and see their prophecies as false. However, upon hearing this tale from Jocasta, it only entices Oedipus, to continue his pursuit of Laius’ murderer. Oedipus believed he had proved the prophecies wrong, but the audience knows that this is not the case.  The prophecies had become a part of Oedipus’ life yet he was ignorant to their validity. Oedipus believed that the people who raised him were his biological parents and refused to believe that Jocasta was his mother, and that by escaping to Thebes, he could escape the fate he was told in Delphi. The prophecies are also used to cast dramatic irony in the play.     Finally dramatic irony “A man from Corinth, come to let you know your father is no more. Old Polybus is dead.”[4] Jocasta informs Oedipus of his father’s death, from natural causes, to remove his conviction in the prophecy that he will murder his own father and marry his mother. Dramatic irony again comes into the play as this new information of Jocasta's actually serves to ensure that the prophecy is fulfilled.   The use of dramatic irony develops the play through the pathos it creates for its tragic hero, building suspense, and foreshadowing the outcome of the play. The dramatic irony employed throughout the play assists in accentuating the irony of this tragedy. The audience is well aware of the prophecies that surround Oedipus, his past and the murder he committed and with a sense of morbid anticipation, watch him dash towards his tragic fate. Yet Oedipus himself is blind to this, believing he can avert the destiny that had been foretold of him. But it is his endeavours to avoid his fate that unwittingly sets his doom in train. His destiny could not be controlled or changed.  Oedipus was a man born with poor fortune and a dishonoured life. He saved the people of Thebes from the sphinx and brought light to their life, but who himself puts out the light in his own eyes to ends his life in darkness so to be able to bear the pain of what he has done. ----------------------- [1] Sophocles, Oedipus Rex, ……. (lines 266-271) [2] Sophocles, Oedipus Rex…..(lines 422-423) [3] Sophocles, Oedipus Rex…. [4] Sophocles, Oedipus Rex…..