Shoup1
Brittney Shoup
Mrs. Burks
Honors English 10
December 19, 2012
OR2A1
Prompt 2: Write a well-developed essay in which you showcase your understanding of irony
(verbal, dramatic, AND situational) as presented in Oedipus Rex. Using evidence from the txt,
prove how certain evens exemplify a major theme in the play.
Mason Cooley wrote “Irony regards every simple truth as a challenge”. This quote
exemplifies irony in Sophocles Oedipus Rex because the main source of irony is the dramatic
irony of Oedipus not knowing who he is. Oedipus believes he was the son of king Polybus his
whole life, then ironically he finds out he is this wife’s son and this truth presents him with the
biggest challenge of his life. Dramatic, situational, and verbal irony are present throughout the
entire novel, they tell the reader major things about Oedipus’ character, also these events show
the themes of the novel.
Sophocles uses examples of irony to illustrate the theme of the limitation of human will
versus fate. Theiresias states “I say you are the murderer whom you seek” (Oedipus Rex, scene1,
line 347) thus portraying dramatic irony. This is dramatic irony because the reader knows the
truth that Oedipus indeed killed King Laius, his father, and Oedipus does not. Oedipus passes her
wisdom as a conspiracy between her and Creon to steal the thrown away from him. The theme of
quest for identity is shown by this quote because this is information about who he truly is, the
son and murderer of Laius, son and wife Jocasta. Also it demonstrates the theme of the limitation
Shoup2
of human will versus fate because from birth it is prophecies that he would be the one to kill his
father and enviably he fulfilled his fate by killing King Laius. Oedipus’ freewill brought him to
back to Thebes because he was running away to keep the prophecy from happening, showing
that Sophocles did not believe in freewill. He believed it was all apart of the Gods plan.
Oedipus’ ironic pride demonstrates the contradicting theme of sight and blindness.
Oedipus calls Teiresais a “sightless, witless, senseless, old man” (scene 1, line 356) which is
verbal and dramatic irony. This is verbal irony because Oedipus refers to the oracle as
unknowing, yet he is the one who truly knows about Oedipus. Teiresais, even though blind,
knows what those who can see do not. He knows that Oedipus’ prophecy is already fulfilled. In
the end Oedipus finally is told the truth and he blinds himself from the horrors of his life, this is
dramatic irony because he does not know that he is going to blind himself but the audience does.
Also this is dramatic irony because in the end Oedipus finds out who he is and blinds himself,
thus contradicting how Oedipus portrays blindness. This is a constant theme in Oedipus Rex.
Irony is shown as Oedipus speaks to the citizens; the theme the abuse of power is
demonstrated. Oedipus in the beginning says” Poor children! You may be sure I know/all that
you longed for in your coming here/I know that you are deathly sick; and yet/Sick as you are, not
one is as sick as I” (prologue, 60-63).This is an example of verbal irony because he regards the
citizens as children because he believes he is better than him, but this is just an illusion he
perceives himself as. In the reality in this novel he is a criminal. He clams to be sicker than the
citizens because they only feel their own pain and he feels all of theirs, but he is not physically
sick as they are due to a plague sweeping through their city. He does not care for his people or he
would show them respect, this demonstrates the theme of the abuse of power because he makes
the citizens troubles to be lesser than him.
Shoup3
The irony in Oedipus Rex is important to the novel’s main plots and theme because they
further develop on them. The irony helps the audience understand Oedipus and his situation.
Oedipus denies who he really and treats the citizens as if they are children who will always need
him. The dramatic irony pertaining to the true prophecy is the main type that is present in this
play and it demonstrates the themes of this novel.