Everyone is blind, in one way or another. Society claims, if a person sees with their eyes, they have the ability to clearly see the world around them. However, the ability to see physically, may blind a person from being able to see the truth. Sophocles introduces this idea of physical versus mental blindness in the play, Oedipus the King. The reader follows Oedipus on his search for the truth. Through juxtaposition Sophocles shows, the metaphorical blindness of the main character in contrast the mental clarity the blind man possesses. Pairing with this thought, the author validates this idea of blindness through dramatic irony. The reader sees the truth, while Oedipus remains blind. Despite the common perception that blindness is only of the sight, Sophocles proves that no man has the capability of full clarity.
Through juxtaposition Sophocles shows while one man sees
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physically, he is unable to see the truth while the blind man has clear knowledge. Sophocles shows the contrast between the two characters, Oedipus and Teiresias, in a confrontation between the two. Oedipus hopes to find the killer of Laius, the former king of Thebes. Bickering leads Teiresias to reveal the truth to the King: I tell you, king, this man, this murderer- he is here… He shall be proved father and brother to his own children in his own house; to her that gave him birth, a son and a husband both; a fellow sower in his father’s bed but amongst men there is no distinct judgement between the prophet and me- which one of us is right. One man may pass another is wisdom but I would never agree with those that find fault with the king till I should see the word proved right beyond doubt. For once in visible form the Sphinx came on him and all of us, saw his wisdom and in that test he saved the city. So he will not be condemned by my mind (Sophocles 524-591). With this information, Teiresias shows his wisdom and knowledge.
However, he ends by stating, he is not expecting Oedipus to believe him, although he does speak the truth. The blind man shows he is able to see his knowledge and wisdom. Although Oedipus is on a search for the truth, when Teiresias tells him the information he is looking for, he ignores it showing his inability to see. He physically sees the blind man in front of him but is unable to see the wisdom and clarity he offers.
Sophocles uses dramatic irony to show the ignorance and naivety that makes someone blind to the truth. While Oedipus’ past, having killed his father and married his mother, is clear to the reader, it remains unknown the him. His further actions seem logical in his mind, but senseless in the mind of the reader due to his lack of knowledge. The dramatic irony that reoccurs throughout the story, may even become frustrating to the reader. Immediately following his interaction with the blind man, Oedipus goes on to accuse Creon of conspiring against him and of killing the former king. Creon addresses this
accusations: Citizens, I have come because I heard deadly words spread about me, that the king accuses me. I cannot take that from him. If he believes that in these present troubles he had been wronge by me in word deed I do not want to live with the burden of such a scandal on me. The report injures me doubly and most vitally- for I’ll be called a traitor to my city and a traitor also to my friends and you (Sophocles 592-601). Creon expresses his concerns regarding the accusations. Because of the dramatic irony in place, the accusation seems unreasonable, the reader is able to pick up on the words of the blind man where Oedipus chose to ignore them. When the truth does become clear, the world is unbearable to the king to the point where he feels it necessary to blind himself. After coming to the realization that he killed his father and married his mother, just as the prophecy has foreseen, Oedipus blinds himself with Jocasta’s brooches, he speaks to the people of Thebes; “Darkness! Horror of darkness enfolding, resistless unspeakable visitant sped by an ill wind in haste! madness and stabbing pain and memory of evil deeds I have done” (Sophocles 1503-1506) King Oedipus is so horrified by the knowledge of his own actions, he feels it necessary to blind himself. Once he obtains the knowledge necessary to clearly see, he loses his physical sight. Through the majority of the story, Oedipus is blind to the truth, as shown by his ignorance to information the reader has embraced. This is until, however, he realizes the truth and blinds himself. This action he puts upon himself emphasizes that the two types of sight cannot be present simultaneously. Through the story of King Oedipus and his search for the truth, Sophocles proves that it is impossible for man to have the power to clearly see both mentally and physically. He uses juxtaposition to convey this point with the characters Teiresias and King Oedipus. Sophocles also conveys King Oedipus’ lack of sight with information that the reader knows but he does not realize the truth. With this use of dramatic irony, the reader can often be frustrated or impatient however, Sophocles surely proves his point. With Oedipus blinding himself, it is reiterated that no one person can handle both physical and mental sight. This idea present in ancient Greek literature pertains to modern life and humanity. Though the ability to physically see may give a person the perception that they are all knowing, they are left questioning this idea. Sophocles leads the reader to question whether physical or mental sight is of more value. A person is left to wonder, would they rather see the nature and world around being ignorant to the truth or have the truth clear to them with the absence of physical sight.
Sight. Sometimes even though you can see, it is not good enough. After all, the eyes can be deceiving. Sometimes it seems that life is an illusion. The moment you think you’re seeing the right thing, the image shifts on you. In Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, when Oedipus tries to see and control to his destiny he is blind but is blinded by his pride, and only when he is really blind does he see.
Blindness and vision are used as motifs in the play "Oedipus Rex," which are also the tragic flaws of the hero. Vision refers to both literal and metaphorical blindness. The frequent references to sight, light, eyes, and perception are used throughout the play. When Oedipus refuses to believe Tiersias, Tiersias responds by saying "have you eyes" and "do you not see your own damnation?" Tiersias also says "those now clear-seeing eyes shall then be darkened." The reference to sight has a double meaning. Oedipus is famed for his clear-sightedness and quick comprehension. He was able to "see" the answer to the Sphinx's riddle, yet ironically, he lacks the ability to see the truth about his own identity. Oedipus has become the very disease he wishes to remove from Thebes.
“…they will never see the crime I have committed or had done upon me!” These are the words Oedipus shouted as he blinds himself upon learning the truth of his past. It is ironic how a person blessed with perfect physical vision could in reality be blind to to matters of life and conscience. During his prime as King of Thebes, Oedipus is renowned for his lucidity and his ability to rule with a clear concept of justice and equality. The people loved him for his skill and wit, as he saved Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx. As a result, Oedipus became overly confident, and refuses to see that he may be the cause of the malady that is plaguing his kingdom. Although physically Oedipus has full use of his eyes, Sophocles uses sight to demonstrate how Oedipus is blind to the truth about his past what it might me for both him and his kingdom. Upon learning the truth, Oedipus gouges out his eyes, so he won’t have to look upon his children, or the misfortune that is his life. Once physically unable to see, Oedipus has clear vision as to his fate, and what must be done for his kingdom and his family
In the play when Oedipus asks Teiresias to reveal the murderer of King Laois, Teiresias blames Oedipus as the murderer and Oedipus denies the blame and gets angry on Teiresias. The chorus even denies the blame on Oedipus and takes Oedipus’ side. The chorus says the following lines to protect Oedipus “This is the king who solved the famous riddle, and towered up, most powerful of men. No mortal eyes but looked on him with envy, Yet in the end ruin swept over him”(Freud 988). Oedipus on the other hand who is really mad at Teiresias blames him and Creon for plotting against him. As Oedipus was blind from the start he was unaware of his origins which will cause him to trigger the unavoidable chain of events that would lead to the fulfilment of the prophecy. But he didn’t knew the fate itself was unavoidable. The irony of theme sight and blindness is produced here when Oedipus is compared to Teiresias. Oedipus who is not blind and has the capability to see with both of his eyes doesn’t finds anything wrong in killing a man, who he later discovers was King Laois and his group. He even took over the throne of Thebes and was found to be lying with his mother thinking her as his wife and having babies with her. On the other hand is Teiresias who is really blind and unable to see than...
Oedipus was blind in more then one way. He was blind to the truth about his own life. Oedipus had no idea that his real parents were Laius and Jocasta. He was so blind that he got mad at anyone who was foolish enough to suggest such an idea.
In Colonus, the blind see and the seeing are blinded. Perfect irony. A prime example of the blind seeing is Oedipus, the “tragic hero.” Though physically blinded, he discerns things that others ignore. By relying on the aid of Antigone, he learns compassion and humility. “Friend, my daughter’s eyes serve for my own.” (83) While some men are able to view the outside world, their own pride blinds them to the reality of what they are seeing. But through the horrible blindness that Oedipus endures, he is finally able to let go of his arrogance and rely on others, an image that recalls Tiresias and his wisdom. “Stranger: ‘What service can a blind man render him?’ Oedipus: ‘All I say will be clear-sighted indeed.’” (86). But all humans endure an intangible blindness, to a greater or lesser degree.
Throughout Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, there are many references to sight, blindness, and seeing the truth. Characters, such as Tiresias, are able to accurately predict what Oedipus’ fate will be through their power to see the truth in a situation. Oedipus maintains a pompous and arrogant personality throughout the play as he tries to keep control of the city of Thebes and prove the speculations about his fate as falsities. Ironically, although Tiresias is physically blind, he is able to correctly predict how Oedipus’ backstory will unfold, while other characters, such as Jocasta and Oedipus are oblivious to the truth even though they can physically see. Thus, we can conclude that the power of “seeing the truth” deviates greatly from the power of sight in reality and can lead to an expedited fate or a detrimental occurrence.
Sophocles introduces a prophet, a seer, Teiresias, into the play. Teiresias is a wise, old man who has supernatural powers to interpret the past and predict the future. Ironically, Teiresias is physically blind, but can “see” the truth about Oedipus. Oedipus has trouble imagining that his father life was taken at his hands. It signifies that Oedipus as a man is ignorant to the true appearance of things - this blind man can "see" the truth about Oedipus, yet Oedipus, in all of his physical perfection, cannot.
While Tiresias is physically blind, he can “see” all, including Oedipus’ fate. Tiresias is known as a seer. The author of the book The Seer in Ancient Greece defines a seer as “a professional diviner, an expert in the art of divination” and he then goes on to say, “There is no exact modern equivalent, since he or she combined the role of confidant and personal adviser with that of psychic, fortune-teller, and homeopathic healer” (Flower 22). Although there are many other seers in literature, Tiresias fits this definition perfectly. Within the first few parts of the play Tiresias acts as Oedipus’ fortune-teller; he knows the fate that awaits Oedipus even though Oedipus himself is unaware. With Tiresias, the word sight represents metaphorical
Then when the truth comes out, blindness is even emphasized more with Oedipus blinding himself physically. His hubris is caused by many things, one may be him thinking he has evaded his cursed prophecy, and even having his own townspeople pray to him as if he were one of the God’s. Blindness in Oedipus Rex is both literal and figurative. People can be physically blind as well as figuratively blinded by the truth. Oedipus was born with a terrible prophecy.
Sophocles makes use of many situations involving dramatic irony. In fact, the entire play could be said to be an example of dramatic irony. The audience becomes aware of Oedipus’ prophecy from the very beginning of the play. The reading from the Oracle stated that Oedipus was destined to murder his father and marry his mother. Although Oedipus is unaware of his fate, the reader knows the tragic future of the character. This use of dramatic irony allows the story to avoid the typical Greek tragedy structure and keep the reader intrigued as the events unfold.
In Sophocles’ play Oedipus Rex, the motif of blindness conveys the deep distinction between physically seeing and being mentally aware. When Oedipus lost his sight, all he had left was his knowledge and this caused him to learn things about himself that would not have otherwise been discovered. Oedipus tried to insult Teiresias by calling his life “one long night so that you cannot hurt me or any other who sees the light” (Sophocles 434-435). Oedipus believed that Teiresias is inadequate due to his loss of sight. In truth, Oedipus was the one who was blinded to his future, while Teiresias was able to clearly see the dreadful events in Oedipus’ fate. Oedipus continued to disparage Teiresias by saying that the Teiresias’ truth was not valid
Throughout the tale of Oedipus’ misfortune, it seems that those that are blind see the fate of those who have eyes to see. The blind prophet, Tiresias is the perfect example of this. When first called to meet Oedipus in Oedipus the King, he envisions the fall of the mighty king. Arguing with the king, he says, “You with your precious eyes, / you’re blind to the corruption of your life” (Sophocles, Oedipus the King 470-471). Reviled by the idea of a blind man telling him that he cannot see, Oedipus dismisses his advice. But Tiresias did in fact see Oedipus’ fate. As explained by Segal, “Tiresias, in his paradoxical vision-in-blindness, knows this truth but is reluctant to tell it” (5). Even though Tiresias was well trusted and called for by Oedipus himself, the king does not put any faith in him and cannot stop his own ruin; “[Oedipus] was at once the emblem of shrewd wisdom and utter blindness” (Whitman 1). Later in the story, Oedipus himself becomes blind and inherits the traits of Tiresias. He begins to see fate although he himself is blind. When Creon arrives to take him away to Thebes, Oedipus argues, “Now then, don’t I see the fate of Thebes / more vividly than you? Oh so much more” (Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus 901-902). The old blind king can see what will happen to his home country better than the current ruler, Creon.
Firstly , Oedipus The King , he was physically blinded by the truth and he did not know what was going on in his life . Oedipus was so blind , that he did not know he was married to his mother . Oedipus was the father of his mother’s two children , and his mother always thought of him being dead . He didn’t know that he killed his father , which is the King , and he didn’t know he was taken away from Thebes . Oedipus’ blindness led to wrong things in his life and they led to destruction . Oedipus says , “Then hear, — I’ll not be proved a murderer.”(Line 668) Oedipus is saying that he can not be proved of being a murderer , but he does not know that he killed his biological father .
Irony used from beginning to end and with each statement made by Oedipus about finding the killer of Laius. Although the audience is familiar with the story they are fully invested in Oedipus. Because Sophocles uses irony in his play it makes the audience empathize with the protagonist. Oedipus becomes human, a tangible character that experiences the same emotions as everyday people. The thing that makes Oedipus even more human is that he is a victim of a fate assigned to him before he was born. He unknowingly carries out the prophecy destined for him which leads to the discovery that he was abandoned at birth by his biological parents; with this discovery a sense of his identity is taken from him. A character so arrogant normally does not receive empathy from the audience, however, he is still very much an innocent fragile human being punished for his father’s defiance. Sophocles used irony to bring a new twist to a familiar story. The use of irony keeps the audience ahead of the protagonist yet still eagerly awaiting his reaction to the obstacles before him; even though they know his fate the audience wants to see how he deals with his unfortunate