Oedipus Rex Essay, Research Paper

In Sophocles? Oedipus Rex, dramatic irony is often present in Oedipus? long

speeches. Oedipus constantly sees things incorrectly, and is in denial that he

has, in fact, killed his father and married his mother. This is first apparent

when he demands the death of the man who killed Laios. Oedipus calls the man who

did this an evil murder. Oedipus assumes that, as he became a citizen of Thebes

after the murder, though he did kill someone, he is ruled out as a suspect of

Laios? assassin. In another speech, Oedipus accuses Creon of setting him up in

order to get the throne, by framing him as the murderer. At this point, Oedipus

is in denial that he is guilty, even though all of the evidence points to him.

In reality, Creon does not want to be king at all; he enjoys his current

position of wealth and power without any real responsibility. A third occasion

of irony in the speeches is Oedipus?s firm belief that the people who raised

him were his biological parents. Oedipus refuses to believe that Iocaste is his

mother, and that by escaping to Thebes, he did not escape the fate he was told

of at Delphi. Because of Oedipus?s denial and stubbornness, he did suffer

greatly and ?commit the greatest sin?.