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Literary Devices In Oedipus

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Within reading Oedipus by Sophocles, it is obvious that Oedipus will be soon used as an instrument of suffering to others. Frye's quote states that "...great trees more likely to be struck by lightning than a clump of grass...". Can be referred to how Oedipus's parents basically struck him down after hearing from the oracle Tiresias the prophecy of what was to be of their son. Even though they tried to change the prophecy it did not work out as they thought it would because the shepherd took pity on Oedipus & presented him to the Queen & King of Corinth due to the fact they were childless so, they adopted Oedipus as their own. Although that did not alter Oedipus's fate that was already set in stone it simply delayed it. Oedipus's birth parents …show more content…

Foreshadowing simply gives a hint to what is going to occur or what may occur within any given situation. Foreshadowing is showed when the oracle Tiresias tells what the future holds, and it's confirmed by the end of the story. The oracle Tiresias told them what was going to happen and in return they asked him questions none of which he answered. Since Tiresias did not answer their questions they tried to change their fate by killing Oedipus (Which was a fail since the shepherd had sympathy for him due to the fact he was only an innocent baby at the time. Which resulted in him giving Oedipus to the King and Queen of Corinth having not known about the prophecy that was given by the oracle Tiresias by to his own King and Queen.) and not having any more children together. Situational Irony is the expectation of something to happen and something else happening instead.(Literary) Situational Irony is used within the story when the oracle Tiresias can see all even though he's blind. Although Tiresias is blind he has a little boy to help him move around easier who also happens to be his eyes in a world that he cannot see, the little boy describes everything to him. Tiresias still sees and hears all so, he tells prophecies that gives a warning unknowingly to those that may try to change it. You can easily imply that if Oedipus's parents had not

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After Oedipus realizes that he fulfilled his fate of killing his father and marrying his mother, Oedipus declares,”I have been saved for something great and terrible, something strange. Well let destiny come and take me on its way”(323). Then Oedipus gouges out his own eyes so that he cannot look upon his parents in the underworld, his children, or the city he once ruled. He then asks Creon to return him to the place he should have died as a young child, the mountain. The statement reveals that Oedipus fulfilled his fate and that Oedipus truly believes destiny set him on the path of destruction.

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Imagine being told your future fate without knowing if it’s true, when it will happen, or even if you can prevent it. One king, Oedipus, in particular, was living that very reality. His fate was uncovered early on by a prophecy, so he lived life trying to run from that fate. Yet, he unknowingly lived that very life later on. He led a life of incest, committed a heinous crime, and was burdened with suffering after the acts were revealed.

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