The Use of Irony in OedipusRex

To the ancient Greeks, once a person’s fate was prophesized, it was set in stone. Nothing at all could be done to change it. Anyone who attempted to alter her/his fate would do so in vain. Fate would overcome all in the end. A prime example of these twisted circumstances is displayed in the play Oedipus the King, written by Sophecles. Oedipus was ill fated since birth. His parents were told that he …

…no one can fully control her/his fate. We can however control the circumstances surrounding our lives. We also have the ability to shape our fate if we just open ourselves completely. Not just with out physical senses but with our foresight. We must think rationally to evade a nightmarish and out-of-control destiny. The use of irony in the play helps us to better comprehend what can happen and how to prevent it from happening.