Many plays have been written about fate.

One play that falls under that category is

Oedipus Rex. In this play sophocles uses irony , foreshadowing, and character development to

inform his readers that fate can only be changed by a god.

Sophocles’ biggest literary device used throughout the play is irony. Tiresias, the holy

prophet hints that oedipus wll be physically blind and ignorant of the truth “...but I say to you

with both your eyes, are blind…” (sophocles 22).This quote has two meanings that the readers

take in, Oedipus is ignorant of the truth the prophet said and oedipus will soon be blind by both

eyes. This quote can also be used as dramatic irony because the reader may understand the

second meaning but the character ay not.

Oedipus skips over the meaning and does not take in the fact that he will be blind in the

near future. This creates the dramatic irony where the reader knows about the future physical

blindness. “He struck at his eyes, not once, but many times;” (sophocles 69).When Tiresias

prophesied that Oedipus would be blind the reader was not aware of how it would happen. The

point of situational irony was when Oedipus stabs his own eyes in order to become blind. This

method was unpredictable and the readers did not infer that Oedipus’ blindness would come in

such a way. Not only did Sophocles use irony in his play but he also used foreshadowing.

Sophocles play is based upon the prophecy which foreshadowed the death of Laos and

the incest of Iocaste and her son Oedipus. It also foreshadows that Oedipus would be blind.

While talking to Apollo’s prophet oedipus accuses Tiresias ( the prophet ) of lying. Tiresias then

reveals an addition to the prophecy of king Loas, Iocast, and Oedipus. “Out of this land some

day, with only night upon your precious eyes.” (sophocles 23). Through this quote Tersias

foreshadows that Oedipus will be exiled and become physically blind.

 Through the constant foreshadowing, Sophocles uses character development to show how

fate will always be fulfilled no matter the circumstances. Sophocles brings in two messengers

and a shepherd to reveal about Oedipus’ life as a younger child. His parents had given him away

to be stranded and die on the mountain. Even though the child did not grow up in the thebes and

know who his father was, he ended up coming back and fulfilling the prophecy which was his

fate. This character development is found throughout scene III and IV, it shows even when

someone messes with fate it finds its way back.

In conclusion in order to inform the reader about how fate can only be changed by a god,

sophocles uses irony, foreshadowing, and character development throughout the play.