Oedipus Rex 7 Essay, Research Paper

Oedipus Rex

Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, ( as translated by Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald ) , is full with dramatic devices & # 8211 ; one of which is known as Sophoclean Irony. Sophoclean Irony can be divided into two footings: unconscious and witting sarcasm. Unconscious sarcasm occurs when a character speaks what he believes is the truth, but the audience ( fore-armed with cognition of the truth ) knows that it is non. Conscious sarcasm is apparent when a character knows the truth but is loath to uncover it: therefore, he speaks deep lines intentionally intended to be dry. Both types of sarcasm will be examined in this paper and transitions from the text will be cited in support of this thesis.

At the minute of his birth, Oedipus received a reading from the Delphic Oracle which stated that the babe was destined to turn up to slay his male parent and get married his female parent. Shocked, his parents ( King Laios and Queen Locaste of Thebes ) attempt to besiege Hera s expletive by turning the baby over to a loyal retainer ( The Theban Shepherd ) to take to the top Mt. Cithaeron to be killed. After nailing his mortise joints together and go forthing him to decease of the elements, the old shepherd relents and hands the kid over to a going shepherd from Corinth to take back to the childless King and Queen to raise as their ain boy. For the following 20 old ages, Laios and Locaste regulation in Thebes believing their boy to be dead. Unfortunately, Hera sends a drouth associated with a sphinx to torment Thebes. A despairing Laios travels back to the Delphic Oracle for a reading.

Meanwhile, back in Corinth, Oedipus grows to manhood believing Polybos and Merope ( the King and Queen of Corinth ) are his existent parents. Soon, he excessively learns of his atrocious destiny and seeking to avoid it, he flees hellos supposed fatherland. As destiny would hold it, along the route, Oedipus meets Laios and kills him in a tantrum of fury. Therefore, he has inadvertently fulfilled the first half of the prognostication. Traveling on to Thebes, Oedipus saves the metropolis from the drouth by work outing the conundrum of the sphinx. Declared the new King, he marries the widowed Queen ( Locaste ) & # 8211 ; his female parent. Therefore, he has unwittingly fulfilled the 2nd half of the prognostication. For the following two decennaries, Oedipus regulations successfully in Thebes until Hera sends a 2nd drouth to blight the metropolis. After directing his brother-in-law, Creon, back to the Delphic prophet for a reading, Oedipus learns that the 2nd drouth will non be lifted until Laios slayer is found and punished. An over-confident King takes charge of the probe. At this point, Sophocles begins his drama. Our first illustration of unconscious sarcasm can be seen in a treatment about Laios by Oedipus and Creon. Oedipus says about Laios: & # 8220 ; I know: I learned of him from others: I ne’er saw him. & # 8221 ; ( pg. 862, lines 108-109 ) . This transition constitutes unconscious sarcasm as Oedipus believes that he is talking the truth & # 8211 ; that he ne’er met Laios. Of class, the audience, armed with fore-knowledge, know that it is non. Oedipus non merely has met Laios ( his existent male parent ) , he killed him at the hamlets & # 8220 ; where three main roads meet. & # 8221 ; Our 2nd illustration of unconscious sarcasm occurs a small in the same scene. Oedipus states that:

& # 8220 ; Then once more I must convey what is dark

to visible radiation. It is most fitting that Apollo shows, as you do, this remorse for the dead. You shall see how I stand by you as I should, to revenge the metropolis and the metropolis s God, and non as though it were some distant friend, but for my ain interest, to be rid of immorality. Whoever killed King Laios might who cognize? Decide at any minute to kill me every bit good. By revenging the murdered King I protect myself.” ( pg. 863, lines 101-104 )

Here, Oedipus refers to the fact the whoever killed Laios might someday try to kill Oedipus. Thus, ironically, he feels that by happening the slayer of Laios, he will be protecting himself. Of class, this is nonsensical. He is incognizant that his determination of Laios killer will non protect him & # 8211 ; but destroy him.

Our 3rd illustration of unconscious sarcasm is apparent subsequently in scene I, when the King ironically condemns himself with his ain announcement:

& # 8220 ; I make this announcement to all Thebans & # 8221 ; :

& # 8220 ; If any adult male knows by whose manus Laios, boy of Labdakos, met his decease, I direct that adult male to state me everything, no affair what he fears for holding so long keep back it. Let it stand as promised that no farther problem will come to him, but he may go forth the land in safety. & # 8221 ; ( pg. 865, lines 10-15 )

This transition constitutes unconscious sarcasm as he condemns himself subsequently in the drama. He thinks that he is reprobating the putting to death he is looking for.

Our first illustration of witting sarcasm occurs subsequently in scene I. Again, following Creon s advice, Oedipus decides to confer with Tiresias, a celebrated blind prophesier. Armed with mystical ability, Tiresias knows the truth about Oedipus atrocious destiny. He knows that the King is doomed so he is loath to uncover what he knows. As he enters the phase, the old adult male says:

How awful cognition of the truth can be when there is no aid in truth. I know this well, but did non move on it. Else I should non hold come. ( pg. 868, lines 101-104 )

Since he knows how atrocious the truth is about Oedipus destiny, he is loath to uncover it. Therefore, he speaks lines intentionally intended to be dry. Of class, Oedipus misinterprets Tiresias reluctance and begins to tease the old adult male. Our 2nd illustration of witting sarcasm occurs minutes later in the conversation when Tiresias know that Oedipus has no free will: & # 8220 ; What does it count? / Whether I speak or non, it is bound to come! & # 8221 ; ( pg. 868, lines 120-121 ) . These lines are spoken in a deep manner intentionally intended to befog the truth. Our 3rd illustration of witting sarcasm takes topographic point in scene III. After a visit by the Corinthian shepherd, Locaste has figured out the truth about Oedipus. She has crossed over from ignorance to knowledge. Now she tries urgently to halt Oedipus from farther probe into his yesteryear: & # 8220 ; For God s love, allow us hold no more inquiring ; / is your life nil to you? / My ain is pain plenty for me to bear. & # 8221 ; ( pg. 885, lines 140-142 ) . She speaks Cryptic lines here intentionally intended to befog the truth.

In the drama, Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles ( as translated by Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald ) , the dramatist uses a dramatic device known as Sophoclean Irony. Both types of sarcasm have been defined and transitions were cited from the text in support of the thesis.

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