Dramatic Irony In Sophocles Oedipus The King

Dramatic irony is an elaborate literary device commonly used in Greek theater. Dramatic irony creates situations where the reader possesses knowledge that the characters do not. In the play, Oedipus the King, dramatic irony is a key component in the events that take place. It sets the audience superior to the characters because of its knowledge of the plot. Therefore the audience is more intrigued in the play as they anticipate the action to come. Also, the misery of limited understanding is proven through Oedipus’s calamity. Sophocles utilizes dramatic irony in Oedipus the King to enhance the effects of the play on the audience. In this play, dramatic irony positions the audience superior to the characters by granting it information that

The audience already knows how the play will end, but they do not know the events that will lead up to the end. This keeps the audience on their toes as they anticipate what will happen next. Edward Mabley elaborates on the role of dramatic irony in this play. “The effect dramatically is that we know more that Oedipus does, that we are in possession of knowledge that he still seeks. Thus we wait for Oedipus to ‘catch up with us,’ and we watch in fascination as he pieces together the damning evidence, the facts that will convince him of what we are already sure of. Dramatic irony has probably never been put to more effective use in a play” (Mabley 45). Dramatic irony encourages the audience to hope, fear, and anticipate the moment when the characters discover the truth. They hope for a happy ending where Oedipus is forgiven for the crimes he has committed, but they fear what will happen when Oedipus finds his true identity. The audience creates their own predictions and become more engaged in the story, anticipating the events to come. Dramatic irony is an excellent tool in capturing the audience’s full attention, and Sophocles demonstrates