Oedipus The King Sight Vs Blindness Analysis

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Through the play “Oedipus the King”, there is a recurring pattern of sight and blindness, not just physical blindness but blindness of knowledge as well. In the beginning of the play Oedipus has a fine sight of vision, but he is ignorant to the truth. On the other side Tiresias is literally blind, but he can see Oedipus past, present, and future. Oedipus eyes work fine but as the play progresses he is completely blinded by the fate that the gods have placed on him. The blindness in the play symbolizes “seeing” and “knowledge”, Tiresias who can see through knowledge where Oedipus can physically see. Sight vs Blindness is a theme that appears in the play which appears when Tiresias, who is a blind prophet is revealing that Oedipus is the killer himself. Oedipus in denial refuses to believe Tiresias and continues to blame the murder on others. Throughout the conversation between Oedipus and …show more content…

In the play he says, “I say you are the murderer of the king
whose murderer you seek. Not twice you shall say calumnies like this and stay unpunished. Shall I say more to tempt your anger more? As much as you desire; it will be said in vain I say with those you love best you live in foulest shame unconsciously and do not see where you are n calamity. Do you imagine you can always talk like this, and live to laugh at it hereafter?”(Sophocles 416-426). Tiresias explains to Oedipus who the real murder is and Oedipus in denial refuses to believe Tiresias and continues to blame the murder on others. Although Teiresias is blind he can see the truth unlike Oedipus who is ignorant to the truth. Blindness has a mental connection to those who are truly blind

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