Justice In Sophocles 'Oedipus The King'

Bernard Knox says “these attributes of divinity – knowledge, certainty, justice – are all qualities Oedipus thought he possessed – and that is why he was the perfect example of the inadequacy of human knowledge, certainty, and justice”. Oedipus thinks that he knows everything that he needs to know, but he does not and that causes his downfall and leads him away from the truth. In the play Oedipus the King by Sophocles Oedipus thinks that he knows what the best is for him and does not let anybody else persuade him from his point which is the cause of his downfall. Oedipus thinks that he has certainty of knowledge, but in reality he does not because he does not accept the whole truth. Oedipus is so certain that he is right that he disregards the blind seer Tiresias, who knows everything. Oedipus thinks that Creon bribed Tiresias to tell him that Oedipus was the killer of Laius so that he could become king when Oedipus was killed or exiled. This causes Oedipus to travel farther away from the truth. Tiresias remarks about Oedipus’ stubbornness “Alas, how dreadful to have wisdom where it profits not the wise!” (Sophocles 120).

While Oedipus was searching for Laius’ killer he curses the killer with death or exile from Thebes not knowing that he was the killer, thus proving his uncertainty of knowledge. As Oedipus discovers that he is the killer he cannot accept it, so he blinds himself. Oedipus blinds himself because everything that he will see and has seen has been false. He does not want to see what awaits him as he ventures into the wilderness in exile because of the curse he laid upon himself. Oedipus puts himself farther away from the truth because of the false justice that he thinks is the