Discuss the use of Irony in Sophocless King Oedipus.

Irony has many forms or definitions depending upon the situations in which it used, and the effect it achieves. We will discuss Sophocless extensive use of irony in his play King Oedipus.

The central character Oedipus is introduced as egotistical, separating himself from the masses with the constant use of the pronoun I. He feels pretty pleased with himself, after all he has altered the destiny of the people of Thebes by solving the riddle of the Sphinx, or so he believes. Now they come to him again for help, but in doing so they begin a process in which his own arrogance leads to his downfall….(short extract)