Examples Of Blindness In King Oedipus
Effects of Physical Blindness
People can in fact be blinded to the truth, the solution to their problems may have been completely oblivious, yet somehow still oblivious. We often make assumptions between being blind and enlightened. With Blindness one may not have sight but another type of vision. In king Oedipus, Tiresias, the blind prophet, presents the truth to Oedipus and Jocasta. Oedipus has been blind his whole life, and when faced with the truth, lost his the truth is uncovered she still cannot accept it. Those who are truly blind ultimately have a higher vision.
Oedipus started his life with a prophecy that he would kill his father, and marry his mother. Oedipus had no idea that his real parents were Laius and Jocasta, and he was blind …show more content…
to the truth of his own life. Therefore Oedipus was blind in more than one way. He experienced such blindness that he grew upset with anyone to suggest such an idea. “What, you? You dare come here? How can you find the impudence to show yourself before my house, when you are clearly proven to have sought my life and tried to steal my crown?” (Sophocles, 532) As more puzzle pieces began to fall into place, Oedipus was forced to open his eyes to the truth. As Oedipus began to see the truth he lost his true vision. As Oedipus began to see the truth he lost his true vision. Oedipus’s physical blindness played into the Aristotle tragedy. As the main character suffered a tragedy. Oedipus’s actions led him to reflect on the wrongs in his life. “The man accused of heaven and Laius’ house. Was I to find such taint in me, and then with level eves to look them in the face?” (Sophocles, 1382) His physical blindness was as harmful to his blindness to the truth.
Jocasta suffered a similar blindness but that of she was aware of the prophecy but believed Oedipus was dead, completely oblivious to get husbands true identity.
Jocasta refused to accept the real truth causing her to kill herself. Jocasta’s blindness also played a role in her downfall, she couldn’t handle her blindness. “In God’s name stop, if you have any thought for your own life!” (Sophocles, 1060) This is Jocasta begging Oedipus to stop looking for the truth because she fears it may be true. As figurative blindness can be just as hard as physical. Jocasta’s denial of the truth shows her unfaithfulness to god. “Why should we fear, seeing that man is ruled by chance, and there is room for no clear forethought? No; live at random, live as best one can. (Sophocles, 976) Jocasta is questioning whether we should believe the prophecies and encourages Oedipus to live at random. Her realization of the truth shows that she cannot beat the prophecy either. When she hangs herself with bed sheets, it is symbolic of her despair over her incestuous actions. Interestingly, Jocasta plays both a spousal and maternal role to Oedipus. She loves Oedipus romantically, but like a parent, she wishes to protect Oedipus's innocence from the knowledge of their
relationship.
Tiresias’s blindness was of Physical nature. Tiresias played the role of typical prophet in Greek tragedy. He was physically blind, but he had vision into the future. When he presented the truth to Oedipus, Oedipus attacked his blindness. Oedipus said he wasn’t blaming Tiresias because he was blind. Tiresias used Oedipus’s blindness to prophesize that Oedipus would leave Thebes blind, poor, and Shamed. Oedipus’s blindness went even further to push Oedipus to question prophecies and their future. “You are too fond of dark obscurities” (Sophocles, 439)Tiresias is a symbol that with Blindness comes the truth.
A person who suffers from physical blindness knows that one will be blind for the rest of their life. That person can learn to deal with blindness. However, if a person is blind to the truth, there is nothing that person can do until they learn the truth, one feels ignorant. Oedipus learned the truth, he dealt with his figurative blindness with physical blindness. When Jocasta learned the truth she killed herself. Blindness was a prevailing theme that lead to the truth.
People can in fact be blinded to the truth, the solution to their problems may have been completely oblivious, yet somehow still oblivious. We often make assumptions between being blind and enlightened. With Blindness one may not have sight but another type of vision. In king Oedipus, Tiresias, the blind prophet, presents the truth to Oedipus and Jocasta. Oedipus has been blind his whole life, and when faced with the truth, lost his the truth is uncovered she still cannot accept it. Those who are truly blind ultimately have a higher vision.
Oedipus started his life with a prophecy that he would kill his father, and marry his mother. Oedipus had no idea that his real parents were Laius and Jocasta, and he was blind …show more content…
to the truth of his own life. Therefore Oedipus was blind in more than one way. He experienced such blindness that he grew upset with anyone to suggest such an idea. “What, you? You dare come here? How can you find the impudence to show yourself before my house, when you are clearly proven to have sought my life and tried to steal my crown?” (Sophocles, 532) As more puzzle pieces began to fall into place, Oedipus was forced to open his eyes to the truth. As Oedipus began to see the truth he lost his true vision. As Oedipus began to see the truth he lost his true vision. Oedipus’s physical blindness played into the Aristotle tragedy. As the main character suffered a tragedy. Oedipus’s actions led him to reflect on the wrongs in his life. “The man accused of heaven and Laius’ house. Was I to find such taint in me, and then with level eves to look them in the face?” (Sophocles, 1382) His physical blindness was as harmful to his blindness to the truth.
Jocasta suffered a similar blindness but that of she was aware of the prophecy but believed Oedipus was dead, completely oblivious to get husbands true identity.
Jocasta refused to accept the real truth causing her to kill herself. Jocasta’s blindness also played a role in her downfall, she couldn’t handle her blindness. “In God’s name stop, if you have any thought for your own life!” (Sophocles, 1060) This is Jocasta begging Oedipus to stop looking for the truth because she fears it may be true. As figurative blindness can be just as hard as physical. Jocasta’s denial of the truth shows her unfaithfulness to god. “Why should we fear, seeing that man is ruled by chance, and there is room for no clear forethought? No; live at random, live as best one can. (Sophocles, 976) Jocasta is questioning whether we should believe the prophecies and encourages Oedipus to live at random. Her realization of the truth shows that she cannot beat the prophecy either. When she hangs herself with bed sheets, it is symbolic of her despair over her incestuous actions. Interestingly, Jocasta plays both a spousal and maternal role to Oedipus. She loves Oedipus romantically, but like a parent, she wishes to protect Oedipus's innocence from the knowledge of their
relationship.
Tiresias’s blindness was of Physical nature. Tiresias played the role of typical prophet in Greek tragedy. He was physically blind, but he had vision into the future. When he presented the truth to Oedipus, Oedipus attacked his blindness. Oedipus said he wasn’t blaming Tiresias because he was blind. Tiresias used Oedipus’s blindness to prophesize that Oedipus would leave Thebes blind, poor, and Shamed. Oedipus’s blindness went even further to push Oedipus to question prophecies and their future. “You are too fond of dark obscurities” (Sophocles, 439)Tiresias is a symbol that with Blindness comes the truth.
A person who suffers from physical blindness knows that one will be blind for the rest of their life. That person can learn to deal with blindness. However, if a person is blind to the truth, there is nothing that person can do until they learn the truth, one feels ignorant. Oedipus learned the truth, he dealt with his figurative blindness with physical blindness. When Jocasta learned the truth she killed herself. Blindness was a prevailing theme that lead to the truth.