Irony

Irony is a major theme throughout Greek drama. In Oedipus, Oedipus’ dynamic character change from the beginning of the play to the end is very ironic. In the beginning of the play, Oedipus was arrogant, prideful, and quick to anger. He had everything: a reputation, a family, and a kingdom; it was easy to be cruel when he held all the power. At the end of the play, Oedipus lost everything: his wife (mother), his children, his sight, his kingdom, and his pride. His fate forced him to humble himself. In his arrogance, he once told Creon, “I want you dead” (698), but now Oedipus must put aside his pride and beg Creon to fulfill his dying wishes. This ironic moment reveals how power and the truth can change a person. When Oedipus was king, it was easy to throw insults at Creon, telling him he didn’t have “a shred of decency” (637) but at the end, he had absolutely no state of power. This is where his change of heart is shown, when he pleads Creon saying “Please… my king. Grant it with all your noble heart” (1608); emphasizing the irony of how power changes his actions and thoughts.

Oedipus’ ironic character change after learning the truth about his mother and father impacts the overall plot because it emphasizes the Greek themes of having everything to having nothing and how there is no way to avoid prophecies. Oedipus’ dynamic character affects individual characters such as Creon and the Chorus. Creon is now the king and is merciful and just once Oedipus is humble, as Creon has shown by fulfilling his dying wishes. The Chorus can “count no man happy till [Oedipus] dies” (1684) because then the “plague-storm” (114) will be lifted and people will be happy again. They will remember Oedipus as a great man because he is down-to-earth at the end, but he must still die for the kingdom to be rid of the plague.