SophoclesParagraph Matin
In Oedipus Rex, dramatist Sophocles contrasts Oedipus and Teiresias with sight and blindness respectively to show that although Oedipus can physically see, he is “blind” towards his fate, which proves to be his tragic flaw. After Teiresias’ initial arrival and refusal to tell
Oedipus his hideous truth, Oedipus flies into a rage screaming, “You sightless, witless, senseless, mad old man!” (Sophocles 20) Although he means to mock Teiresias’ obvious impairment,
Oedipus uses “senseless” to convey that Teiresias can’t truly “see” into the future and predict fate. Oedipus’ outburst stems from the plague in the city, which puts pressure on him and contributes to his growing insecurity as leader. Consequently, he receives Teiresias’ insinuations towards his obliviousness towards the details of his past and future as an insult instead of useful information, exposing his metaphorical “blindness.” While Teiresias continues to ignore
Oedipus’ requests for his findings, he says, “You do not even know the blind wrongs you have done...no man that walks upon the earth shall be rooted out more horribly than you.” (Sophocles
23) Teiresias states that Oedipus “[does] not even know the blind wrongs” he has committed, unveiling his blindness towards his oblivious actions. Although the line “no man...shall be rooted out more horribly than you” seems like a contemptuous response to Oedipus’ series of insults, Teiresias foreshadows the king’s inevitable downfall as the story’s tragic hero. Later, when Teiresias finally reveals the truth about Oedipus’ past (he married and killed his mother and father, respectively), Oedipus gouges his own eyes out screaming, “No more shall you look on the misery about me…Too long been blind to those for whom I was searching! From this hour, go into darkness!” (Sophocles 69) Here, “too long been blind” discloses his transition from complete ignorance to awareness of what he has done and how much his father’s curse plays into
Oedipus his hideous truth, Oedipus flies into a rage screaming, “You sightless, witless, senseless, mad old man!” (Sophocles 20) Although he means to mock Teiresias’ obvious impairment,
Oedipus uses “senseless” to convey that Teiresias can’t truly “see” into the future and predict fate. Oedipus’ outburst stems from the plague in the city, which puts pressure on him and contributes to his growing insecurity as leader. Consequently, he receives Teiresias’ insinuations towards his obliviousness towards the details of his past and future as an insult instead of useful information, exposing his metaphorical “blindness.” While Teiresias continues to ignore
Oedipus’ requests for his findings, he says, “You do not even know the blind wrongs you have done...no man that walks upon the earth shall be rooted out more horribly than you.” (Sophocles
23) Teiresias states that Oedipus “[does] not even know the blind wrongs” he has committed, unveiling his blindness towards his oblivious actions. Although the line “no man...shall be rooted out more horribly than you” seems like a contemptuous response to Oedipus’ series of insults, Teiresias foreshadows the king’s inevitable downfall as the story’s tragic hero. Later, when Teiresias finally reveals the truth about Oedipus’ past (he married and killed his mother and father, respectively), Oedipus gouges his own eyes out screaming, “No more shall you look on the misery about me…Too long been blind to those for whom I was searching! From this hour, go into darkness!” (Sophocles 69) Here, “too long been blind” discloses his transition from complete ignorance to awareness of what he has done and how much his father’s curse plays into