Foreshadowing In Oedipus

In the following essay, I will analyze the novel entitled The English Teacher written by R.K. Narayan, and the tragic play “Oedipus the King” written by Sophocles. Both writers use foreshadowing through the use of symbols, literary devices and themes in order to create either suspense or dramatic tension of what it is going to come later in the story. The English Teacher is set in India during the British colonial rule in 1940’s and portrays how the British tried to impose their culture, however, the Indian culture seems very strong to disappear completely. On the other hand, “Oedipus the King” was first performed 429 BC, and the author Sophocles lived in Athens for most of the 5th century BCE, a period known as the “Golden Age of Athens”

Sophocles uses foreshadowing as warn of disaster because Oedipus fulfilled his prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother. Sophocles not only foreshadows through themes and symbols, but also through the use of motifs and character’s names. The first foreshadowing is seen both in the name of the story and the character “Oedipus”, as he is left in the mountains with his ankles pinned together, and the injury left leaves him with a vivid scar for the rest of his life. The symbol of his swollen foot makes allusion to the fact that the prophecy will always be with him as the vivid scar. The writer presents a lot of tragic irony as Oedipus hears the story of Jocasta binding her child’s ankles and not think of his own swollen foot, and here is when the theme of sight and blindness, as well as unwillingness to see the truth are presented as Terisias says to Oedipus metaphorically, “you have eyes but you can’t see your own corruption”. This last phrase portrays how from the beginning Sophocles gives clues of how the curse of Sphinx was solved. Reinforcing on the same themes, as Tiresias says, “the truth is painful”, foreshadowing not only the psychological pain after the truth is revealed but also the pain of taking away his eyes. What is more, when he was little, a drunk man accused him of not being the son of his parents and “the accusation always troubled” him, however, he is not willing to see the truth. Also, the three way crossroad is a relevant symbol as clues at the power of prophecy rather than freedom of