DIANELA, Gabriel O.

LIT110-A8
2018103380 06/28/2021

MODULE 2; ACTIVITY 1: IRONY

TOPIC: OEDIPUS REX, PROLOGUE AND SCENE 1

Parts and Inclusive Irony Meaning of the quoted lines

line number

Prologue, line 75 What act or pledge of mine may This line is an example of dramatic irony
save the city. because Oedipus is asking what act or help
that he could do in order to save the city
from the plague. It is ironic in a way that the
act that he did when he murdered King
Laois was also the very reason why there is
a plague in the city.

Prologue, line 109 I know; When Oedipus was asking Kreon, who was
I learned of him from others; I the person murdered, Oedipus stated that
never saw him. he knows who King Laois is, but he has
never seen or encountered King Laois in
person. However, the reader is aware that
this comment is tragically ironic, as Oedipus
is revealed to be the one who saw and
murdered King Laois at the crossroads.

Scene 1, lines 29-31 As for the criminal, I pray to God
Whether it be a lurking thief, or
one of a number
I pray that that man’s life be
consumed in evil and
wretchedness.
In these lines, Oedipus is cursing the
murderer of King Laois to be consumed in
evil and wretchedness. The ironic part here
is Oedipus in reality is cursing himself and
praying it to the Gods that his life will be
consumed in evil and wretchedness.
Scene 1, lines 48-52 I say I take the son’s part, just as
though
I were his son, to press the fight for
him
And see it won! I’ll find the hand
that brought
Death to Labdakos’ and Polydoros’
child,
Heir of Kadmos’ and Agenor’s line.
Scene 1, lines 127-130 Rage? Why not! And I’ll tell you
what I think:
You planned it, you had it done,
you all but
Killed him with your own hands:
if you had eyes,
I’d say the crime was yours, and
yours alone.
These lines are considered to be
dramatically ironic because Oedipus
imagined himself to be King Laois’ son, well
in fact he really is the son of King Laois, and
he is just unaware of the actions he has
done towards his own father. It is also ironic
that Oedipus mentioned that he would fight
for his father, but little does he know that
he is the one who killed his own father.
These lines shows when Oedipus was
accusing Teiresias to be the killer of king
Laois. It is ironic in a way Oedipus keeps
conspiring and searching the criminal in
other people, well in fact the murderer of
king Laois was him all along. It is also Ironic
in a way Oedipus was accusing a blind
prophet to be the killer, but in reality, he is
the one who is really blind of the truth all
along.