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IRONY IN OEDIPUS The irony is the use of words in a story to bring out a meaning that is the exact opposite of the literary meaning. It is a technique of showing an intention that is contrary to what is stated through the development of the plot or character. There are three categories of irony; Dramatic irony occurs when the audience has more knowledge of happenings in the story than one or more characters; Situational irony occurs when the expected outcome is different from what happens; Verbal irony happens when intended meaning of a phrase is different from what the words express in reality. Oedipus Rex is a Greek play that uses characters the audiences already know. The King in the story is tragic, and his tragedies lead to his downfall. Dramatic irony can be seen in many instances in the play. Oedipus unknowingly kills his father King Laius and married his mother; the audience is aware of this. The city of Thebes is worried about the attack of a plague, and the citizens turn to their king to seek help. The people and even Oedipus himself don’t realize that he is the reason behind the curse disturbing the city. The plague is disturbing the city because the former king’s murderer was not arrested and punished. King Oedipus gets this information from an Oracle and says that the murderer should be dispelled. This is dramatic irony because even though the audiences know that Oedipus is the murderer of King Laius, he is not aware of that. He does not also realize that he is cursing himself thinking he is cursing the king Laius murderer. Another example of dramatic irony is when Oedipus tells Teiresias that he is blind. Teiresias is angered and tells the King that he
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