Dramatic Irony in Oedipus Rex

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Dramatic Irony in Oedipus Rex

In Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, there are several instances of dramatic irony. Not only does this irony give the plot a rounder shape, but it helps the audience understand, or follow along, the plot better.
Dramatic irony is sometimes used to intensify a scene or act. By doing this, the plot of the story, or play, is made more interesting. One example is Oedipus taunting Teiresias for his blindness, both physical and stellar. He says, “You sightless, witless, senseless, mad old man!”, “You child of endless night! You can not hurt me or any other man who sees the sun.” Oedipus constantly made remarks to Teiresias blindness and his sight, though unknowingly, Oedipus himself was the “child of endless night”, the “sightless, witless, ...

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