Irony used from start to finish and with every statement made by Oedipus regarding the search for Laius's murderer. Although the audience knows the story, they are fully invested in Oedipus. Because Sophocles uses irony in his play, the audience sympathizes with the protagonist. Oedipus becomes human, a tangible character who experiences the same emotions as ordinary people. What makes Oedipus even more human is that he is the victim of a fate assigned to him before his birth. He unknowingly realizes the prophecy intended for him and which leads to the discovery that he was abandoned at birth by his biological parents; with this discovery, his sense of identity is taken away from him. Such an arrogant character does not normally receive empathy from the audience, however, he remains an innocent and fragile human being, punished for his father's defiance. Sophocles used irony to put a new twist on a familiar story. The use of irony keeps the audience in front of the protagonist while eagerly awaiting his reaction to the obstacles in front of him; even though they know his fate, the audience wants to see how he deals with his unfortunate