Role of Tiresias
What is the importance of Tiresias to Oedipus the King?
In the play, Oedipus the King, Tiresias, a minor character, is the blind prophet who is able to receive visions of the future from Apollo. In view of this he is the connection between the gods and the others, such as Oedipus. Due to this knowledge, he acquires not only authority but also a fatherly and wise aged man personage. He is the first one to reveal the truth to Oedipus, who did not believe him and accuses Tiresias of disloyalty. Although he only has one scene, the scene is a very significant turning point in the play. When Oedipus brings Tiresias to the palace, he reveals another side of Oedipus’s personality. At first, Oedipus seems like the faithful king, as he blamed Tiresias for treason and said that he was “Unlawful, unfriendly too to the state that bred and reared you- you withhold the word of god.” (Line 367) This allegation may appear out of good will to save the city of Thebes, however his strong desire to know continued to build up and eventually he snaps. Tiresias accuses him as the murderer of Laius and finds this outrages. Tiresias´s accusation stirs up Oedipus’s anger and brings out his inner child. He denigrates Tiresias, which is something a child would do and not an honored king. At the breaking point, he mocks Tiresias, saying, “ You’ve lost your power, stone-blind, stone-deaf – senses, eyes blind as stone!” (Line 423). At the beginning it seemed unlikely that such a kind king as Oedipus would be a murderer. As the readers are exposed to Oedipus’s more aggressive side it becomes believable that he could have killed Laius. They learn that Oedipus is not really the king that they thought he was, because of Tiresias. Tiresias not only unveils more about the main character, but also about the reoccurring idea in the play. A key technique of Oedipus the King is irony. Irony is established through the tension between Oedipus and Tiresias. Oedipus is not blind, but is not aware
In the play, Oedipus the King, Tiresias, a minor character, is the blind prophet who is able to receive visions of the future from Apollo. In view of this he is the connection between the gods and the others, such as Oedipus. Due to this knowledge, he acquires not only authority but also a fatherly and wise aged man personage. He is the first one to reveal the truth to Oedipus, who did not believe him and accuses Tiresias of disloyalty. Although he only has one scene, the scene is a very significant turning point in the play. When Oedipus brings Tiresias to the palace, he reveals another side of Oedipus’s personality. At first, Oedipus seems like the faithful king, as he blamed Tiresias for treason and said that he was “Unlawful, unfriendly too to the state that bred and reared you- you withhold the word of god.” (Line 367) This allegation may appear out of good will to save the city of Thebes, however his strong desire to know continued to build up and eventually he snaps. Tiresias accuses him as the murderer of Laius and finds this outrages. Tiresias´s accusation stirs up Oedipus’s anger and brings out his inner child. He denigrates Tiresias, which is something a child would do and not an honored king. At the breaking point, he mocks Tiresias, saying, “ You’ve lost your power, stone-blind, stone-deaf – senses, eyes blind as stone!” (Line 423). At the beginning it seemed unlikely that such a kind king as Oedipus would be a murderer. As the readers are exposed to Oedipus’s more aggressive side it becomes believable that he could have killed Laius. They learn that Oedipus is not really the king that they thought he was, because of Tiresias. Tiresias not only unveils more about the main character, but also about the reoccurring idea in the play. A key technique of Oedipus the King is irony. Irony is established through the tension between Oedipus and Tiresias. Oedipus is not blind, but is not aware