2. Prompt
Irony – Sophocles was
obviously trying to entertain
the audience with some
type of tragic story for
entertainment purposes but
actually what message was
Sophocles trying to tell the
people of Greece? How is
this in relation to Oedipus
and the fate and hubris the
people of Greece held
during Sophocles time.
Literal Meaning of theTopic
"Sophocles wanted to be entertaining, but what was he trying to
tell the Greeks? How is his message related to Oedipus, his fate,
his pride, and the pride of the Greeks?"
• Noting that Sophocles did intend to entertain, the underlying
message to the Greek belief of hamartia, or a tragic flaw.The
crux of a true Greek tragedy is hamartia, and in the case of
Oedipus, hubris. Oedipus' hubris is seen as a pervasive theme
throughout the play, one that ultimately causes his fate to
play out in the tragedy.
• In relation to presenting the play in a Greek theatre, the
underlying message of excessive pride befalling the tragic
hero serves to reinforce the idea of an unchanging ultimate
fate, but gives power to the idea of free will to seek the truth
and the human aspect of Oedipus.
3. Irony and Oedipus
Relating back to the topic of Irony, Sophocles created Oedipus to not only
entertain and compete in religious festivals, but to teach the audience, and the
rest of Greece a lesson. During the Classical Period in Greece, tensions were
high and war was waged on many fronts, with different powers fighting for
control.The tragedies Sophocles wrote reflected that turbulent time, with
themes of overthrowing kings and the murder of ones own kin.Through the
use of Irony and other tragic elements in Oedipus, Sophocles warns the Greek
population of the vices of hubris and being too prideful, and how fate can be
far from one’s control.
4. Situational Irony
• “That man, whoever he may be, I banish from
this land where I sit on the throne and hold the
power; no one shall take him in or speak to
him. He is forbidden from communion in
prayers or offerings to the gods, or in holy
water. Everyone is to expel him from their
homes as if he were himself the infection
which Apollo’s oracle has just made known to
me” (Sophocles 15).
• When Oedipus sets a curse upon the murderer,
it is already situational irony because he
committed the murder of Laius. He speaks of
ridding the city of a plague and darkness but
does not realize that he is the one who caused
it.The people who know that he is the
murderer isTiresias and the shepherd because
they know his true identity.
5. Verbal Irony
• “It has, except for you.You have no power or
truth.You are blind, your ears and mind as well
as eyes” (Sophocles 25).
• When Oedipus refers toTiresias as blind in all
senses, it is verbal irony because Oedipus is
blind in not knowing his origins and his
personal history. Oedipus does not truly know
who his parents are and the event of his birth
and he is telling a person that does know, that
he is blind on the subject.
6. Tragic Irony
• “He ripped out the golden pins with which her
clothes were fastened, raised them high above
his head, and speared the pupils of his
eyes…he raised his hands and struck his eyes
again, and again” (Sophocles 93).
• Oedipus gouging out his eyes is tragic irony
because earlier in the play he insultedTiresias
for being blind in logic but he ends up making
himself actually blind.
7. Example fromText
“Wealth, absolute
power, skill surpassing
skill...I did not ask for
it” (Sophocles 26).
• As Oedipus is inquiring about whatTiresias knows about
the murder of Laius, he exhibits excessive pride that
contrasts the previously positive characteristics of a caring
king as he exclaims thatTiresias is lower than he is and
ought not to withhold information that could potentially
help save the people ofThebes.
• His hubris and mocking of the blindTiresias is an example
of the Greek word Peripeteia, meaning a reversal of roles,
and relates to the overarching message that Sophocles is
conveying to his audience on tragic flaws as well as
philosophical strives of humanity.
• Again: His hubris throughout the play is ultimately ironic as
the things he boasts of and his demeanor ultimately falls
short in the face of his truth and the prophecies.
8. Example fromText
“But I count myself the son
of Good Chance, the giver
of success – I shall not be
dishonored. Chance is my
Mother” (Sophocles 79).
• Even as the evidence continues to further incriminate and
lessen Oedipus, his humanity and hubris compels him to
continue seeking the truth despite his ultimately tragic
fate. In this scene, he's denouncing Jocasta's concern to her
being a woman of higher status and that he will find his
true linage and dispel what he perceives as embarrassment
to marrying Oedipus who may or may not be of noble
decent.
• Again: His hubris throughout the play is ultimately ironic as
the things he boasts of and his demeanor ultimately falls
short in the face of his truth and the prophecies.
10. Significant Moment #1: Oedipus agrees to
investigate Laius's murder
• After Creon returns from the Oracle of Apollo, he addresses Oedipus, the
priest, and the people of the city, with the solution to ridThebes of the plague and
famine that harms it.The solution from Apollo is that they must either banish or kill
the one who murdered the old king ofThebes, Laius. Oedipus, being the hero that
he is, agrees to begin the investigation, and publicly announces it to the city's
people to reassure them that their problem is being taken care of. This is a
significant moment in the novel because it is the first event that leads to the tragic
ending of the novel.Taking upon this quest starts chain reaction that ends
with Oedipus discovering the truth of his birth and marriage.This relates to the
prompt in that it is ironic that Oedipus begins an investigation in which he is the
murderer.
11. Significant Moment #2:Tiresias refuses to say
what he knows, and Oedipus disrespects him.
• To start off his investigation into the murder of Laius, Oedipus sends forTiresias, a
prophet of Apollo. After being sent for multiple times, the prophetTiresias
finally comes to Oedipus, but he refuses to say what he knows for Oedipus's own
sake. However, Oedipus, due to his lack of respect for elders, goads him on,
insulting him, pushing and prodding until finallyTiresias gives way, vaguely
accusing Oedipus of killing Laius. In turn, this makes Oedipus more furious, and he
even considers that Creon is working withTiresias to take the throne away from
him.This moment is significant because until now, the reader had only seen
the positive, heroic character traits of Oedipus, and now his character flaws, in the
form of hubris and disrespect, are revealed.
12. Significant Moment #3: Jocasta kills herself
and Oedipus pokes out his eyes
• As the truth comes out and everyone starts to realize what has happened to
Oedipus, he realizes that all the prophecies regarding him and Laius have come
true: he has killed his true father and married his mother.This truth is too much
for Jocasta to bear, knowing that she had children with her own son, and she pulls
her hair out and commits suicide by hanging herself. Upon discovering
this, and dealing with discovering that his entire life has been a lie, Oedipus gouges
out his own eyes with the golden pins on her clothes.This moment is significant
because it is the tragic end to the main character.This event related to the
prompt as the irony shows how Oedipus has always been mentally blind, and now
is also physically blind. With this concluding event, Sophocles conveys his message
to his audience.
13. 1988 Prompt:
In "Oedipus Rex" some of the significant events are mental or psychological; for example, awakenings,
discoveries, or changes in consciousness. Describe how Sophocles manages to give these internal events
the sense of excitement, suspense, and climax usually associated with external action.
14. 2000 Prompt:
In "Oedipus Rex" identify the mystery and explain how the investigation illustrates the
meaning of the work as a whole.
15. So why do we care? (Conclusion)
Irony is one of the most used device in the entirety of Oedipus, and is used
skillfully by Sophocles to get the audience to really feel for his tragic hero. An
otherwise upstanding guy, his flaws were his hubris and unwillingness to
respect his elders.The fates intervened and despite trying his very best to
avoid fulfilling his prophecy, it comes true anyways. Irony in these tragedies
add suspense and make the works all the more impactful to the audience. It
makes them think about what they could have done in the hero’s place and
really emphasizes the lessons and values presented by the author.
16. Just in case
you missed
something...
• What is the topic?
• Irony (Subtopic of Hubris)
• Relation to Oedipus?
• Oedipus' myth is a prime example of irony (verbal, situational, structural, etc...) and he
epitomizes hubris.
• Literary Devices and Examples (Basically the same as the Significant moments)
• Situational Irony - Oedipus accepts the task of finding Laius' murderer(s) | He's the killer
• Verbal Irony -Tiresias doesn't want to tell Oedipus the truth | Oedipus, blind from the truth, calls
Tiresias blind
• Tragic Irony - Jocasta hangs herself and Oedipus stabs his eyes | He just wanted to be a good king :(
• 2 Related Prompts:
• 1988 - How Sophocles manipulates excitement, suspense, and climax
• 2000 – Mystery's impact on the play
