Oedipus rex (opera)

Cite a specific example of dramatic irony from this section.

Citizens of this city that Cadmus founded, why have you come here? What is it that you want from me? I see you wear wreaths and carry sacred branches. I smell incense and hear hymns and prayers, and the cries of people weeping. Your suffering is obvious, so I, Oedipus, known to you all as your king, have come myself to find out what I can do. Old man, I see you are the leader of these people. Speak to me. If you have something to ask of me, do not be afraid to tell me what you want. I’ll do what I can. I am not a man without pity. You are our king. We stand before you, both young and old. I am a priest of Zeus, king of the gods.

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Irony can be found in the fact that the will of the gods will always win out.... prophecy will always come true.

Shortly after the section you've included above, Creon comes back from the oracle with the news of how to stop the plague. He tells Oedipus that he must find and kill the murderer of the former king, Laius, in order to stop the plague. Although Creon and Oedipus are pleased that they know how to stop the plague, the audiences of the time would already be familiar with the story of Oedipus. They would know that the man who killed Laius is, in reality, Oedipus, although Oedipus does not yet realize it. As the audience knows more than the characters themselves, this causes dramatic irony throughout the play and creates a buildup of tension.

Source(s)

Oedipus the King

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