Dramatic Irony In Sophocles Oedipus The King

The play Oedipus the King by Sophocles describes the tragic tale of a complex king who discovers the true origins of his birth and the disastrous implications they will have on both himself and his kingdom. Written in ancient Greece, the audience was already familiar with the play and characters, giving Sophocles many opportunities for the use of dramatic irony and subtle allusions. Dramatic irony is used to allow the audience to gain a deeper understanding of Oedipus’ complex character and to heighten the sense of tragedy within the play.
Throughout the play, two noticeable patterns of dramatic irony emerge that depict Oedipus’ two distinct roles. At the beginning of the play, dramatic irony is used to accentuate the commanding actions taken by Oedipus as king, portraying him as a strong, competent and forceful ruler. In the second half of the play Sophocles uses dramatic irony to accentuate the emotional reactions of Oedipus as a man, who is portrayed as prideful, indecisive and irrational. The majority of the audience would likely not have been able to sympathize with the struggles of a king so by separating the roles of Oedipus as a king and as a man, the audience is able to relate to the pain of a flawed man. Dramatic irony is used to highlight the strength of Oedipus as …show more content…
Firstly, Oedipus declares his intent to capture Laois’ murderer and thereby find the cause of the plague, saying that he will “I will begin the search again.” (29) This declaration illustrates to the audience that Oedipus is a good and strong king who will not idly sit by and watch his city suffer. This instance of dramatic irony adds to the tragedy of the play as the audience knows that by actively searching for Laios’ murderer Oedipus is bringing himself closer to his own destruction, that he is responsible for his own terrible