In Oedipus the King, irony is frequently used and revolves around Oedipus and Tiresias. At the beginning of the tragedy when Oedipus is talking to the priest an example of dramatic irony is portrayed. Oedipus speaks with great confidence and authority when telling the priest that, ”But once he returns then i will be a traitor; if i do not do all the god makes clear”(Sophocles 162). As Oedipus says this he is unaware that he will actually become a traitor when he returns. At the moment, Oedipus does not know that he has killed Laius, his father, but does know that the person who did it will pay the price. The audience knows more than Oedipus because we know who he killed even though the Oedipus in the story do not know this yet. As the story
