Abstract: Previous researches on Oedipus the King, a masterpiece in Greek tragedies that has won great critical acclaim for its superb structure, mostly center aound its tragic structure as initially defined and discussed by Aristotle. Its paradoxical feature-in spite of its importance-is comparatively less discussed in the academic field. No doubt, the play is well-known for its use of paradoxes to convey Sophocles’ ideological and artistic characteristics, especially his contemplation on human destiny and the ideal of life under special circumstances, thus formulating an epitome of Athennian society and the world outlook of Sophocles. His use of artistic paradoxes of art, identity, ethics and region not only propels the plot forward, but also illustrates how this feature contributes to its success as a classical tragedy.

Key words: Sophocles, Oedipus the King, paradoxical contexts, paradox