IRONY IN OEDIPUS REX

IRONY IN OEDIPUS REX

Q- The play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles is very ironical in that it endorses the theme of free will as well as predestination. We eventually come to realize that man is free and yet he is also fated. What are your views?  [2010]

               

Firstly, Sophocles has presented Oedipus as remaining unaware of the riddle of his birth and parentage. It is ironical that Oedipus solved the riddle of the Sphinx. And ignorantly became the King of his own father's land.

Secondly, Oedipus wanted to escape from his misfortune of marrying his own mother but the irony lies in the fact that he sadly knows at the end of the play that his wife is actually his own mother.

Thirdly, Oedipus wanted to avenge the death of his predecessor Laius on behalf of the Thebes but ironically he took revenge from his own self.

Fourthly, he tried his utmost to escape his misfortune prophesied by the Oracle but destiny brought him at the same place where he thought he was farthest from the ominous place.

Fifthly, Jocasta innocently told Oedipus that he resembled her late husband not only in appearance but also in stature. The irony lies in the fact that she resembled him to her dead husband who was actually Oedipus's own father.

Sixthly, she told Oedipus about the place of the murder of her first husband. She told him that the place was the crossing of three roads. The irony here lies in the fact that this road crossing reminded Oedipus of the killing of three people fifteen years ago.

Seventhly, Jocasta affirmed before Oedipus and all other that Oracles are meaningless. But the irony lies in the fact that all the Oracles came true word for word. Her belief strengthen by the fact that her husband Laius was not killed by her son,as told by the Oracle, but by some stranger, but unfortunately the irony lies in the fact that this stranger was Oedipus himself, her present husband.

Eighthly, Oedipus and Jocasta both were disrespectful towards Oracles, but the irony is that both of them were the victims of Oracles.

Ninthly, Oedipus has a whim that he is the son of Apollo and here irony lies in the fact that Apollo proved to be the worst enemy of Oedipus by making worst decisions against him.

Tenthly, Oedipus derided the blind man Teiresias at the blindness and the irony here lies in the fact that Oedipus own blindness was ridiculed by Creon at the end of the drama.