Oedipus the King and Line
Teiresias vs. Oedipus
The play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles tells about a man who is blind to see his own fate. The King goes through many different hubris acts leading up to the reason why he is blind. Throughout the play many different people try to tell Oedipus what's happening but he doesn't want to believe it. Oedipus was given away as a baby, and raised by another King and Queen. Oedipus grew up and killed his father and became King of the city. This caused him to be wed to his mother. Eyes are for sight but Oedipus lacks vision physically and mentally. In the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, the minor character of Teiresias is responsible for foreshadowing Oedipus' fate by developing the theme of blindness, and also illustrating dramatic irony. Teiresias is responsible for further developing the theme of blindness, by using his own physical blindness to reveal to Oedipus his mental blindness. Teiresias is able to see the fate and destruction of Oedipus' life. Teiresias uses his great ability to reveal to the reader the downfalls in Oedipus' life that will soon occur. The character of Teiresias demonstrates the use of foreshadowing in order for the reader to be aware of Oedipus' fate. Tiresias also foreshadows the self-mutilation and destruction of Oedipus. The following quotation clearly displays the use of foreshadowing by Teiresias, " I say you live in hideous shame with those most dear to you. You cannot see the evil" (288 line 149). The quote to Oedipus should mean something but it means nothing to him - he is blind to see what it means. To Tiresias it means your whole life is a lie. The special part of this quote is those most dear to you'. Meaning someone who close to you has a great deal to do with this shame. Teiresias further develops the theme of blindness in the story. Teiresias is a blind man who can actually see the fated outcome of Oedipus' life. Even though Oedipus has full use of his physical vision, he is completely
The play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles tells about a man who is blind to see his own fate. The King goes through many different hubris acts leading up to the reason why he is blind. Throughout the play many different people try to tell Oedipus what's happening but he doesn't want to believe it. Oedipus was given away as a baby, and raised by another King and Queen. Oedipus grew up and killed his father and became King of the city. This caused him to be wed to his mother. Eyes are for sight but Oedipus lacks vision physically and mentally. In the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, the minor character of Teiresias is responsible for foreshadowing Oedipus' fate by developing the theme of blindness, and also illustrating dramatic irony. Teiresias is responsible for further developing the theme of blindness, by using his own physical blindness to reveal to Oedipus his mental blindness. Teiresias is able to see the fate and destruction of Oedipus' life. Teiresias uses his great ability to reveal to the reader the downfalls in Oedipus' life that will soon occur. The character of Teiresias demonstrates the use of foreshadowing in order for the reader to be aware of Oedipus' fate. Tiresias also foreshadows the self-mutilation and destruction of Oedipus. The following quotation clearly displays the use of foreshadowing by Teiresias, " I say you live in hideous shame with those most dear to you. You cannot see the evil" (288 line 149). The quote to Oedipus should mean something but it means nothing to him - he is blind to see what it means. To Tiresias it means your whole life is a lie. The special part of this quote is those most dear to you'. Meaning someone who close to you has a great deal to do with this shame. Teiresias further develops the theme of blindness in the story. Teiresias is a blind man who can actually see the fated outcome of Oedipus' life. Even though Oedipus has full use of his physical vision, he is completely