The Truth of Oedipus
“No Point in Ignoring the Truth"
Thesis/Map: The truth of Oedipus’ fate is expressed by a blind prophet, Jocasta, and a servant. I. The blind prophet presents Oedipus with the fate that was cast to him years ago. A. Tiresias is brought in to help decipher Apollo’s message. B. Tiresias claims Oedipus is the murderer. C. Oedipus’ ignorance keeps him from hearing the truth.
II. Oedipus’ wife, Jocasta, comes in to talk with him. A. Jocasta tells him the story of hearing the fate of son. B. Oedipus refuses to recognize the coincidences. C. Jocasta does not want Oedipus to hear the truth from the servant.
III. A messenger tell Oedipus his father had died. A. He reveals that Polybus was not his real father. B. The messenger connects Jocasta’s story and Oedipus’ ankles. C. He reveals the shepherd and how he got Oedipus.
No Point in Ignoring the Truth Why ignore the truth when it has been presented in a million ways? The play that expresses this is Oedipus the King written by Sophocles based in the mythological time in Greece. This play is about a man named Oedipus who is destined to murder his father and marry his mother. His fate is very true and does not realize it until later in life, but he does not want to accept it at first. The truth of Oedipus’ fate is expressed by a blind prophet, his wife Jocasta, and a messenger. In the beginning of the play, the town of Thebes is struck with a plague. Oedipus sends Creon to get answers from Apollo, and when he comes back Creon brings word that the murderer of Laius must be abolished. Oedipus does not know where to start with this, so he calls for the blind prophet Tiresias. The prophet comes in and says, “How terrible- to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees!” (621). By making this statement, the prophet is introducing the truth to Oedipus. Naturally, Oedipus does not understand what he means by this. Tiresias clears up the confusion by stating, “I say you are the
Thesis/Map: The truth of Oedipus’ fate is expressed by a blind prophet, Jocasta, and a servant. I. The blind prophet presents Oedipus with the fate that was cast to him years ago. A. Tiresias is brought in to help decipher Apollo’s message. B. Tiresias claims Oedipus is the murderer. C. Oedipus’ ignorance keeps him from hearing the truth.
II. Oedipus’ wife, Jocasta, comes in to talk with him. A. Jocasta tells him the story of hearing the fate of son. B. Oedipus refuses to recognize the coincidences. C. Jocasta does not want Oedipus to hear the truth from the servant.
III. A messenger tell Oedipus his father had died. A. He reveals that Polybus was not his real father. B. The messenger connects Jocasta’s story and Oedipus’ ankles. C. He reveals the shepherd and how he got Oedipus.
No Point in Ignoring the Truth Why ignore the truth when it has been presented in a million ways? The play that expresses this is Oedipus the King written by Sophocles based in the mythological time in Greece. This play is about a man named Oedipus who is destined to murder his father and marry his mother. His fate is very true and does not realize it until later in life, but he does not want to accept it at first. The truth of Oedipus’ fate is expressed by a blind prophet, his wife Jocasta, and a messenger. In the beginning of the play, the town of Thebes is struck with a plague. Oedipus sends Creon to get answers from Apollo, and when he comes back Creon brings word that the murderer of Laius must be abolished. Oedipus does not know where to start with this, so he calls for the blind prophet Tiresias. The prophet comes in and says, “How terrible- to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees!” (621). By making this statement, the prophet is introducing the truth to Oedipus. Naturally, Oedipus does not understand what he means by this. Tiresias clears up the confusion by stating, “I say you are the
Cited: Sophocles. “Oedipus the King.” The Norton Anthology Western Literature. Ed. Sarah Lawall. 8th ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company inc., 2006. 612-652. Print.