As in any great tragedy, the story of Oedipus is rife with heartbreaking irony. In "Oedipus the King," Sophocles provides the reader with an interesting contrast between the truth as defined by the gods and their oracles and the truth as defined by Oedipus himself. ... Oedipus is a complex individual whose decisions illuminate his world view, providing the reader with insight into why Oedipus behaves the way he does. ... In fact, so certain that he's the only one who really knows the truth, Oedipus flaunts his success in defeating the Sphinx in an attempt to needle Tiresias into complyin...

• Word Count: 1443
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate