How Does Creon Use Dramatic Irony In Oedipus Rex

The use of dramatic irony in a story is to excite and amuse a reader, but also to make their knowledge feel superior by letting them in on secrets that the characters don’t yet know. Sophocles was excellent at filling this piece of writing with numerous examples of dramatic irony. His uses of irony are supposed to show the reader what Oedipus’s character really is. By the use of irony, we as readers can better understand why Oedipus is stubborn to learn about his past and that nothing good comes out of it. Sophocles uses Creon’s delivery of Apollo’s prophecy, Tiresias’s words of wisdom, and Jocasta’s assurances to present dramatic irony in his drama.

Creon returns to Thebes with a message from Apollo’s oracle saying, “‘Pay the killers back-

whoever is responsible’” (Pg. 168 L. 122). Oedipus later says after this message is delivered that, “Now you have me to fight for you, you’ll see: / I am the land’s avenger by all rights” (Pg. 169 L. 153). Oedipus starts the search for any clues that may lead him to the murderer and puts a curse on the man who killed Laius. Not until later in the play does he learn that he’s made a mistake by cursing himself when he realizes that he is the killer of Laius.
Sophocles uses dramatic irony in the exchange of words between Oedipus and Tiresias. Tiresias is called to the castle to tell Oedipus the potential killer, but he refuses to tell him the truth. In response, Oedipus gets angry and he starts to insult Tiresias. Tiresias responds by saying that, “you’re blind to the corruption of your life/ to the house you live in, those you live with” (Pg. 177 L. 471). This is ironic because the audience knows that not only is Oedipus blind to the truth of his life, but that he will one day be physically blinded by his own hands.
Another use of irony is when Jocasta is telling Oedipus not to worry about his prophecy, because the oracle was already wrong once with the prophecy she told her deceased husband. “He could never make the murder of Laius/ truly fit the prophecy. Apollo was explicit: / my son was doomed to kill my husband… my son, / poor defenseless thing, he never had a chance/ to kill his father.” (Pg. 190 L. 371). The irony is that Jocasta assures Oedipus that the prophecy won’t come true all while Oedipus becomes the physical embodiment of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Furthermore, Sophocles uses irony continuously throughout the play because it makes the story more interesting. It gives the audience a good laugh sometimes, and others it just makes the story more enjoyable to watch/read. At the time the play was performed, the audience would have already known exactly what was going to happen in the plot. Therefore, Sophocles had to add in the dramatic irony to give the viewers something to apply their prior knowledge to and to make the play more than just a retelling of a story everyone already had heard.