Use Of Irony In Oedipus The King

Irony occurs in one’s life and shapes many aspects of his life whether or not be notices. In the play, Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, Oedipus, the current Thebes finds way to search for the murderer of the previous king, Laius, in order to save the city from the plague and bring back peace. However, throughout the play, Oedipus is unaware that the killer is himself. All in all, the use and purpose of irony in Oedipus the King is to show Oedipus’s action, the idea of fate and the search for Laius’s murderer. Sophocles displays irony throughout the play using Oedipus as his pawn. The king constantly threatens to bring pain towards the killer and promises not to be rest until the the person is tracked down. Oedipus promises to find the murderer when he says, “whoever killed the king may decide to kill me too with the same violent hand by avenging Laius, I defend myself” (269). This quote reveals that in order for the plague to be uplifted, Oedipus must look for Laius’s murder. However, Oedipus does …show more content…
There are plenty of ironic moments in the play, in which Oedipus curses the killer, though it is himself, tries to run away from fate, although Oedipus’s fate is inevitable and looks for the murderer, when the murderer has always been him. All of which, have contributed to the downfall of Oedipus’s reign as king of Thebes, as parent, son and husband, emphasizes the important role of fate, and for the truth of Oedipus’s past, present and future condition to be revealed. All these attributes have helped Oedipus on his quest to find the murderer, though, ironically, it did not help himself personally. Also, it has helped Ancient Greeks and the audience to realize the importance and the role of fate. Oedipus the “swollen foot” has walked from ignorance through a path with a swollen mind and