The story of Oedipus is one of the most famous examples of tragic irony in literature. The word “tragic irony” refers to a situation in which an event happens that is contrary to what is expected or intended. Oedipus was prophesied to kill his father and marry his mother, but he was adopted by the king and queen of Corinth after he was abandoned by his birth parents. He knew about this prophecy and believed that he could prevent it from coming true. He killed his father in a fit of rage after learning that he had been unfaithful to his mother. He married his mother and became the king of Thebes after his father’s death. His actions led to the downfall of his kingdom.
Oedipus’ tragic story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris — excessive pride or self-confidence — which results when one ignores warnings and acts on assumptions that turn out to be false or misleading. When someone has an inflated sense of self-importance, they may become arrogant, conceited or overconfident about their own abilities or status; this can lead them down a path toward calamity because they ignore warnings about potential problems, fail to take precautions against danger, act without considering all possible outcomes.
