Oedipus is seen as a tragic hero in the play, a principal character, in a position of social importance being the King of Thebes. ... Good tragedies are filled with irony, and dramatic irony is reflected in the play through the theme of blindness versus sight. ... Dramatic irony is further reflected by Teiresias's presence. ... Using irony allows Sophocles to tantalize the audience into wanting to see how the events occurring mentally affect Oedipus regardless of whether they are already aware of the story. Irony is seen continuously in the story. ...

• Word Count: 1270
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The tragedy revolves around Oedipus, the king of Thebes and his own hamartia or tragic flaw causes him to come up with an anagnorisis or epiphany, which ultimately leads to his downfall. In the tragedy, Thebes is cursed with a plague which will only end if King Laius' murderer is apprehended and exiled from Thebes. King Oedipus vows to search for the killer with all of his power but despite advice from Tiresias the seer and Creon, his wife's brother, he continues to deny all they say. ... Oedipus and Tiresias' conversation exemplifies verbal irony because despite the fact that T...

• Word Count: 728
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

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' belief in himself as the savior of the city and the defender of truth is further reinforced when Kreon returns with instructions from Apollo to drive out the former king's murder. ... The parody of the gods' truth versus Oedipus' truth continues as Oedipus insists that he must have all possible kno...

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

(Oedipus the King 1297-305) Alongside the chorus's description, the audience are left to their own imaginative devices. ... Whereas for an audience in Athens, the tragedy of Oedipus the King would stem from his loss of power and how he starts to grow weak. ... "(Oedipus the King, 1068 "1078) Here we see Jocasta explaining to Oedipus that the situation they share is ok and can be overlooked. The incest is not what would've become another tragic element to the audience in Greece, but Jocasta's lack of understanding and complete irony would have. ... In looking closely at O...

• Word Count: 1654
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate