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Themes of Arrogance & Denial in Oedipus the King

In Sophocles' Oedipus The King, the playwright examines the way in which arrogance and denial can contribute to a man's downfall, as well as the notion that men truly are subject to the whims of fate. Indeed, as a result of his own conceit, the play's titular character finds himself, despite the fact that he has attempted to fight the prophecy that tells of his fate, and exercise free will. Oedipus willingly chooses to ignore what is true, and this ultimately leads to his destruction. In order to illustrate these points, Sophocles relies upon the use of dramatic irony to emphasize the flaws in Oedipus' character, as the audience is aware throughout the play that while Oedipus arrogantly believes he has averted his dire fate, he has in fact walked straight into his destiny. It is this irony that ratchets up the tragedy in Oedipus The King, and renders Sophocles' work truly memorable.

From the opening of the play, Sophocles' use of irony is apparent. When the audience first encounters Oedipus, he is addressing a crowd outside the palace about the plague that has befallen Thebes. He has sent Creon, his brother-in-law, to the oracle at Delphi to uncover the source of the plague. The oracle reveals that until the murderer of Thebes' previous king, Laius, is banished from Thebes. Upon hearing the news, Oedipus announces that he will hunt down Laius' killer without mercy in order to save his kingdom, declaring "It falls on me then. I will search and clear/This darkness" (12). Certainly, there is much irony in Oedipus' statdment because in reality, he is the very reason for the darkness that has befallen his people (Segal 56). Thus, it truly does "fall" on him, though he does not understand this when the play begins.

However, Sophocles imbues these opening scenes with even more dramatic irony. Oedipus takes the problem quite personally, as he vows, "Who'er it was that slew/Laius, the same wild hand may seek me ...

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Themes of Arrogance & Denial in Oedipus the King. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 13:15, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1696608.html