Period 4, Michael Carleo, Eng 4 HNR

In Oedipus the King by Sophocles, the use of sight and tragic irony are used many times in the play. These literary techniques really made Sophocles enhanced the story of the play. In addition, Sophocles used both of these techniques in many ways to express the plot in a very interesting way. He used sight and tragic irony hand in hand to enhance the story of the play. Sophocles first used "sight" when the chorus revealed the plot and gave hints about the outcome that will happen. The audience can "see" what is going to happen in the end, and this enhances the tragic irony of Oedipus. During the story, he goes on further using the chorus as the "seers" of what is going to happen when they talk to the audience. During the play, the blind prophet Teiresias knows the truth of Oedipus' fate, and Oedipus, who has eyes, is so blind and obnoxious of his actions. Teiresias gives off many clues that Oedipus killed King Laius, while Oedipus is cursing "the killer" of the old king. This is a perfect example of situational irony that a blind prophet can see the truth while a king with eyes cannot. This is also tragic irony because the "sight" enhances his tragic flaw that will eventually destroy Oedipus. Lastly, when Oedipus found out he killed his father and married his mother, he decided to stab his eyes out. This use of the lack of "sight" now shows that he knows his fate came true. This further proved the tragic irony was true that the audience was shown in the beginning of the play. It showed that one does not need eyes to know the truth. All of these examples further expressed the conflict between Oedipus v. Fate/Truth.