Dramatic or Tragic Irony in Oedipus the King

Dramatic or tragic irony is a momentous element in Greek tragedy which sticks the audience to the whole play in theatre and deepens the story. Similarly Sophocles’ constant use of irony in King Oedipus has a great importance in the theme and presentation. Most of the characters of the play – except Teiresias, a prophet knowing all, and King Leius’s shepherd who knows the secret of Oedipus—speak, think and act opposite to the reality on account of their ignorance. Such situation in a tragic play is called dramatic or tragic irony. Again, being a legend, the story comes before the audience as an irony, contrast between appearance and reality. Now we will exemplify and evaluate the use of irony in Oedipus the King.

At the very prologue to the play, in the dialogue between the priest and Oedipus, there is dramatic irony—

            “O greatest of men,

Restore our city to life.

… let it not be said

That under your rule we were raised up only to fall.”

Here the priest requests Oedipus to save the city from plague, disaster and calamity mentioning Oedipus greatest of men, to such a sinner who has killed his own father, married his own mother and begot four children. Again, only for him, they have fallen into misfortune. Thus, the priest has made this dramatic irony because of his ignorance.

            When Creon brings the news from the Pythian house of Apollo that an unclear man who has killed King Laius is polluting the city with his presence here, and that killer should be banished or killed, Oedipus says—

            And where might he be?

Where shall we hope to uncover

The faded traces of that far-distant crime?

Here, Oedipus himself is the killer but the fact is unknown to him.

[Again, Oedipus says

            The killer of Laius,

Whoever he was, might think to turn his hand

Against me; thus, serving Laius, I serve myself.

Oedipus wishes to avenge upon the murderer… Consequently, this also becomes a dramatic irony.]

            There are many examples of tragic irony in the exciting dialogue between Teiresias and Oedipus. Oedipus wants to know the fact from Teiresias, but he does not agree to reveal the fact. Moreover, he asks not to investigate the case. As a result, Oedipus insults Teiresias—

Shameless and brainless, sightless, senseless sot!

Though, in appearance, Teiresias is a blind man, in reality, he can  see all the hidden fact with his third eye. On the other hand, though Oedipus has his eyes, he cannot understand the fact.

            Furthermore there are striking ironies in the dialogue between Oedipus and Creon. Creon tries to prove himself pure and guiltless. Even Oedipus indicates Creon as a traitor and tries to prove himself guiltless—

            You are a knave.

And

            You cannot prove me guilty of blood.

But, we, the audience and the readers, know that Oedipus is a murderer.

            Therefore, these are only few examples of dramatic irony in Oedipus the King. Such instances are in plenty in the text.