Irony, Arrogance, And Oedipus Essay -- essays research papers

     "Listen to me. You handle my silver screenness, do you?/ But I say that you, with both your eyes, are blind" (I, 195-196). With these memorable speech, the sightless prophet Teiresias all notwithstanding paints the entire sad story of Sophocles Oedipus the King, one of the most prominent pieces of Greek literary heritage. Greeks knew and love the story of Oedipus from childhood, just as children today cherish the story of Cinderella. In his version of the beloved tale, Sophocles concentrates his attention on the events directly lede to Oedipus destruction, portrayal Oedipus as a wait onless pawn of fate. The most prominent literary device is salient irony, primarily of the spoken word, through which--especially in the Prologue--Sophocles captures auditory sense attention, illuminates Oedipus arrogant personality, and foreshadows the events of the final scenes.     It is not difficult to understand why Sophocles resorts t o dramatic irony in the construction of his play. He is working with much the uniform problem a unexampled-day playwright would face in forge a play around the Cinderella motif audience familiarity, leading to a lack of suspense. It is difficult to maintain audience interest when the conclusion and the events leading up to it are obvious to everyone. To circumvent this difficulty, Sophocles saturates his play with dramatic irony, enchanting the audience with the awareness that they know more than Oedipus, letting them cringe with the dainty knowledge of the misfortunes he pass on face. Sophocles employs the blindness of Oedipus to such advantage that he creates an atmosp here similar in human beingy respects to that of a modern horror film. The audience knows the destination well and has probably been there before, but the journey is too pleasurable to forego.     Understandably, it is the Prologue that is richest in dramatic irony, because in that scene, everyone relate is still in complete darkness to the truth and their ignorance therefore causes their words to carry far greater weight. Oedipus comes out to the people, moved with compassion at their suffering, and says to their spokesman the Priest "Tell me, and never doubt that I will help you/In every way I can I should be heartless/Were I not moved to find you suppliant here" (Prologue 12-14). He will help them ... ... He seeks to make the reach of Oedipus a force to be reckoned with, a terror to evildoers. And, frankly, he desires to perpetuate his name by elevating himself to celebrity status. One can almost hear the gods laughing as Oedipus builds his air castles. Oedipus shall indeed perpetuate his name--in one of the most horrible ways imaginable. He will indeed save Thebes--but he will destroy himself in the process. His name will become a sawing machine forever. He will leave an unending legacy not of renown and fame but of infamy and shame.      Through Oedipus the King Sophocles presents the paradox of a man whose good side causes harm and whose bad side works good. The reference book of Oedipus itself is one vicious irony, for his virtues devolve into virulent vices that wreak his complete destruction. though the story he tells is a heartbreaking and predictable tragedy, Sophocles masterfully employs the tools of his craftiness to fashion a drama that has captured the fascination of untold generations. Perhaps in that lies the ultimate irony The name of Oedipus will always be dissemble in a pall of darkest ignominy, but that of Sophocles remains forever bright in brightest glory.