Figures of Speech

1. Dramatic Irony: Dramatic Irony means the audience will understand the event's truth, but the characters will not understand that at the time.

• Oedipus searches for Laius' killer – But the audience knows he is the murderer.
• He curses the killer – Unknowingly cursing himself.
• He fears marrying his mother – While already married to her.
• Jocasta dismisses prophecies – Not realizing they have come true.
• The blind prophet "sees" the truth – While sighted Oedipus is blind to it.

2. Symbol: A symbol is something that represents a symbolic meaning. In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus’ swollen feet symbolize his fate. His name, “Oedipus,” means "swollen foot" because his feet were tied when he was a baby. This shows that he was trapped by fate from birth. Another symbol is the crossroads, where Oedipus unknowingly kills his father. The crossroads represent choices in life, but also show that no one can escape destiny.