irony

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Recommended: Use of irony in king oedipus

Sophocles uses several kinds of irony throughout the story of Oedipus. At the time, irony was very important because people wrote about stories that were usually well known by the people who were hearing or seeing them. The stories told were much like “old wive’s tales” that are popular in today’s society. The use of irony during this time period was very important so that the audience’s attention could be kept and they would not become bored by hearing a story they already knew. When Oedipus was a baby, a prophet told his parents that he would eventually kill his father and sleep with his mother. Instead of taking a chance of the prophecy becoming true or killing him as a baby, his real parents sent the baby with a servant to be killed. But the servant could not kill the baby and, instead, gave the baby to a shepherd. But the shepherd did not want to leave the baby to die so he took the baby home. The shepherd sent the baby to his king and queen to raise since they did not have any children of their own. When Oedipus was older, he was told that he was not the king’s real son. He asked the king and queen about this and when he did not believe what they said, he went to ask an oracle. The oracle only told Oedipus that he would kill his father and sleep with his mother. After he was told this, Oedipus decided he would never go back home because he did not want those things to happen. While traveling to Thebes, Oedipus killed an older man he crossed paths with along the road. This is an example of irony because, of course, Oedipus did not even consider that action would be fulfilling part of prophecy the oracle had just told him. The very prophecy he was trying to prevent from happening. Once he arrived in Thebes, ... ... middle of paper ... ... shepherd. When the shepherd arrives, Oedipus does not tell him what he already knows. But the shepherd talks and talks until all of the details are revealed. The messenger confirms that Oedipus is the real son of Jocasta and Lauis, and that even though he and his real parents did everything they could to keep the prophecy from coming true their actions actually caused it to come true in the end. Once Oedipus realizes what has happened, and that the prophecy has come true, he goes into the palace to find that Jocasta has hung herself. After seeing Jocasta, Oedipus gouges out his own eyes and leaves Thebes hoping he will take the punishment from them in the process. Considering this all began because Oedipus wanted to stop the suffering for the people of Thebes. Maybe Oedipus thinks, even hopes, that at least he could accomplish some good from all the tragedy.

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