What is dramatic irony? Examine Sophocles's use of dramatic irony in King Oedipus.

Critically examine Sophocles's use of dramatic irony in King Oedipus.
Ans. Dramatic irony is a literary device which reveals the contrast between what the audiences know and what the character thinks he knows. Usually the character is ignorant of the meaning of his utterance or of the situation he is in. But the audiences have the advantages of the future consequences of that utterance or situation as they are familiar with the story. Greek tragedians used this rhetorical device as they based their tragedies on the myths and legends which were familiar to the audiences. Sophocles, one of the three great tragedians of ancient Greece, masterly uses this dramatic technique in his grand tragedy King Oedipus. The play is based on the myth of Oedipus, which was well-known to the Greek audiences. Sophocles utilizes this foreknowledg of the speetators to create different situations in which irony plays an important role. Sophocles : Oedipus Rex The Chorus plays as a commentator in all the choral odes. The first choral song recounts the plague and the message from Delphi reinforcing the seriousness of the situation. In the second choral song, the Chorus is seen in a dilemma whether they believe the blind Prophet who accuses Oedipus of the present curse or they believe in Oedipus who proved his worth earlier dėlivering them from Sphinx. The third choral song is essentially moralistic expressing great
reverence for divine laws. It also comments on the fate and character
of tyrants who are proud. The final song reveals the typical Sophoclean notion about human predicament, Oedipus being a clear illustration of this idea. Another characteristic of the Chorus in King Oedipus is that sometimes it can foreshadow the coming event. The Chorus observing the departure of Jocasta in a heavy mood, predicts that something wrong is going to happen. Moreover, Sophocles uses the Chorus as a curtain to separate the scenes and actions. Therefore, the Chorus in King Oedipus becomes an integral part of the play. For this, Aristotle comments, "Sophocles' chorus is a character that takes an important role in the play instead of merely making incidental music between the scenes as in the play of
Euripides."