Dramatic Irony In Oedipus The King

In Sophocles’s Oedipus The King, there are numerous examples of dramatic irony. First, Oedipus mocks Tiresias with dramatic irony. The chorus, also known as the people of Thebes in the play, are talking to Oedipus the king of Thebes about how their city is dying. The chorus tells Oedipus to see Tiresias, the blind prophet of Apollo but Creon, Oedipus's uncle and brother-in-law, has already sent for him to come. When Tiresias came he explained that Oedipus was the killer of Laius, confirming a prophecy that Oedipus, the son of Jocasta and Lauis, would kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus angrily says, “...If you weren’t blind, I’d say that you alone struck him down” pg(21). This quote shows dramatic irony because Oedipus is mocking Tiresias because he is blind.

Next, Oedipus talking about Lauis being killed at a three-way crossroad represents dramatic irony. Jocasta, Oedipus’s mom, and wife asks what upsets Oedipus. Oedipus says that Creon is accusing Oedipus of killing Lauis. While Jocasta is explaining how silly the accusation was, she said something that frightened Oedipus. Oedipus says, “I thought I heard you say Lauis was killed at a place where three highways meet” pg(42). This quote demonstrates dramatic irony because the audience knows that Oedipus killed his father and former king of Thebes at a three-way crossroad. Oedipus needs to find out later in the play if he did kill Lauis or if it was a false accusation while the audience already knows the outcome. Last, Jocasta's not believing in prophecies shows dramatic irony. A Corinthian messenger was sent from Corinth, where Oedipus grew up with his adoptive parents Polybus and Merope. The messenger was sent to Thebes with news that his father Polybus had passed