Oedipus the King: Irony/Tragic Hero

In Oedipus the King, Sophocles demonstrates how Oedipus is one of the most tragic characters in all of literature while using countless examples of irony. Throughout the entirety of Sophocles’ masterpiece, verbal, dramatic and situational irony occurs. Sophocles exquisitely entangles irony into many aspects of Oedipus’ life. Sophocles portrays Oedipus as the ultimate tragic hero using a combination of powerful and enthralling scenes.
Sophocles is known by some to be the master of irony, and Oedipus the King allows readers to understand why. A fascinating example of irony is Oedipus’ life in itself. Oedipus is led to believe that two individuals are his parents, when they are not. This irony leads to a succession of incidents including the fulfillment of Oedipus’ prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother. Oedipus threatens the killer of King Laius. “But my curse be on the one who did this, whether he is alone or conc...