Irony in Oedipus the King and Macbeth - Essay Example

Irony is a significant aspect of literary works. In Oedipus the King and Macbeth, two kinds of irony are present which are verbal irony and dramatic irony. Dramatic irony is that in which, the audience is aware of some event or happening but the characters of the play or any one character is not knowledgeable about the new happening or event (Muir 1979). Verbal irony is a form of irony in which, the speech of the characters indicate something that is false and in actuality, the outcome is some other aspect that is unknown to the character (Muir 1979). Sophocles makes use of both of the mentioned ironies in order to present the story of Oedipus while on the other hand, Shakespeare also takes support of both of the mentioned ironies in lieu of literary techniques.

Both the protagonists of the plays are destined for their downfall. Even if they make decisions, they make it in order to support the prophecies made. In addition, the playwrights were interested to take their heroes towards tragic endings, which enabled them to make decisions that were in the interest of the tragic ending. If they had decided differently, still they were to meet their prophecies as structured by both the playwrights.

In Oedipus the King, dramatic irony is employed at various locations such as the prophecy about Oedipus that he will murder his own father and marry his own mother is revealed at the beginning of the play and the audiences of the play are aware of the prophecy and the ending of the play. On the other hand, Oedipus is quite ignorant about the prophecy and its implications. Even, when he gains knowledge about this prophecy, he tries to change the prediction by moving away from the parents who adopted him (Knox 1998).

Oedipus thinks that he will change the prediction by means of getting away from his parents and by leaving his state but in actuality, he moves toward his real parents and kills his father ignorantly. Later on in the play, Oedipus tries to find the murderer of Laios, his real father, unknowingly that he, himself is the murderer (Knox 1998). Oedipus ironically announces that he will avenge the murderer by saying:

“I will fight for him like I would fight for my father” (Sophocles 1991)

An example of verbal irony can be seen when Oedipus promises that he will avenge Laios like his own father and will take his murderer in chains. Here, Oedipus is not aware that he is the murderer for whom he is searching. Also in the above-mentioned quotation, Oedipus not knowingly announces that he will avenge the murdered king as he would have avenged his father, which is a clear example of verbal irony.

In Macbeth, dramatic irony can be seen when King Duncan speaks of the pleasanter of the castle unknowingly that Macbeth and Mrs. Macbeth have planned to kill him. At this point, the audience is aware of the evil plans of the traitors, while the King is unaware due to which, dramatic irony is created (Muir 1979). King Duncan says as he moves towards the castle:

“This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself
Unto our gentle senses. (Macbeth, I, iv, 1-3).”

The king considers Macbeth a loyal and trustworthy person but in actuality, he aspires for kingship and wants to take away the place of the king.

Verbal irony can be seen when Macbeth speaks of love and loyalty to the King while in his deep heart, he has kept hatred and longing for his death.  He speaks some other words but means oppositely. In the beginning, Macbeth was loyal to his king but later on, his ambition led him to his tragedy (Muir 1979). Like Oedipus the King, in Macbeth too, prophecy was there. With the advancement of the plot, the prophecies made by the Witches came up true and can be considered as verbal irony.

Both the protagonists, Oedipus and Macbeth are destined for their downfall and tragedy. They reach their destiny with the help of their decisions. If they had decided differently, still their fate would have taken them toward their fated end. If Macbeth had not taken his wife’s words, he would have taken some other way to move toward his destiny. Similarly, if Oedipus had not tried to change the prediction, there would have been some other ways to fulfill the prophecy. Therefore, it is quite clear that both the characters of Oedipus the King and Macbeth are destined for their tragic ending. They got their fated downfall.