How Does Sophocles Use Dramatic Irony In Oedipus Rex

Throughout the play Oedipus The King Sophocles demonstrates dramatic irony. Sophocles’ uses of dramatic irony shows the reader Oedipus’s character. Readers can better understand why Oedipus longs to learn about his past and nothing good results from his quest. Sophocles demonstrates dramatic irony with many different scenarios. Creon’s message, Tiresias’ exchange with Oedipus outside of the castle, and Jocasta’s conversation and revelation of the events present the irony.

Sophocles uses dramatic irony when Oedipus replies to Creon’s message on how to get rid of the plague. Creon says that the oracle told him to find Laius’s murderer and either exile or kill him. As a result, Oedipus declares a curse on the man who killed Laius. “As for the murderer himself, I call down a curse on him …” (15) Later in the play, he learns that he made a big mistake when he realizes that he killed Laius because he ironically curses himself.

Oedipus calls Tiresias to the castle so he may tell Oedipus of the potential killer, but Tiresias refuses to tell him the truth. Oedipus then gets angry and starts to insult Tiresias by saying “You are blind, your ears and mind as well as eyes” (23). Because Oedipus calls Tiresias blind when he obviously is, this exemplifies Sophocles’ strong use of irony. This exchange also indicates dramatic irony because they are both blind, Tiresias is physically blind and Oedipus is blind about his identity, and he surely does not see this. Also, at the end of the story, when Oedipus finds out the truth, he blinds himself which creates dramatic irony when the audience remembers this conversation between the two