Theme Of Sight In Oedipus - 1207 Words

In the story of Oedipus, there is a terrible curse that has fallen upon the city of Thebes, and the only way to expell it is to find out who killed their former ruler, King Laius. Now that Oedipus is in charge, he makes it his one and only goal to find out who killed Laius in order to save the city and his people. He brings forward innocent people, threatens them, and puts himself before everyone else to find out who holds the blame. However, Oedipus is oblivious to the fact that he is the man that he is looking for. This is where the symbolism of sight emerges in the story. The repetitive theme of sight is mentioned with Oedipus, Jocasta, and Tiresias (the blind prophet). Furthermore, there are two sides to this idea, both sight and†¦show more content†¦Truth is not in you---for yours ears, your mind, your eyes are blind!† (169). As soon as Oedipus becomes even slightly aware of the idea that he could be to blame, he turns it right back on to someone else, in this cas e an innocent man. Whether they can see or not, the other people of Thebes are looking out for the best interest of Oedipus when looking to tell him the truth. Similarly, Sophocles cleverly has Oedipus mock the blind man for being blind, because it shows his stubbornness to avoiding his own problems and menacing on others instead. Additionally, his unwillingness to blame himself helps to show how the gift of sight is not always what is able to find the truth. Tiresias is blind, yet he knows more than any man with sight, and Sophocles shows that the physical ability to see can often be a misconception, as once people find out they are the one to blame, they pretend as though they can no longer see. Once Oedipus has gotten a glimpse from multiple characters that he might be the one responsible, he still turns the other way. The truth is so close from his reach, and he is very capable of saving his city, yet he remains in the darkness. Sophocles uses Oedipuss inability to find out the truth to prove that Oedipus is blind to both the consequences and rewards of his actions. If Oedipus is able to discover the truth, then his city will be saved, although he will be forced to sacrifice himself for the punishment of the murder. However,Show MoreRelatedTheme Of Sight And Blindness In Oedipus797 Words   |  4 PagesSophocles certainly wasnt shy about the motif of sight vs. blindness. If youve got way too much time on your hands, go through the play and highlight words like see, sight, vision, eyes, and blind. Since this motif is symbolic of the pursuit of knowledge, you can go ahead add that word, along with terms like oracle, truth, prophecy, and Apollo, since hes the god that represents all these ideas. The Oracle of Shmoop predicts that your highlighter will run out of ink, and yourRead MoreOedipus Rex: Imagery of Blindness and Sight as a Medium to the Themes1218 Words   |  5 PagesIn the play, Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, an honourable and admirable Greek king named Oedipus rules the town of Thebes. He is left in mental turmoil and decay as his unknown, corrupt and immoral past is slowly revealed during his quest to find the culprit who murdered King Laius. The newly exposed past suddenly transforms his glory and respect into shame and humiliation. After he learns about his wicked past he stabs his eyes, which lead to his blindness. During the course of the play, referencesRead MoreEssay on Sight and Blindness in Oedipus Rex1311 Words   |  6 PagesIn the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, the themes of sight and blindness are developed in a way to communicate to the reader that it is not eyesight itself, but insight that holds the key to truth and, without it, no amount of knowledge can help uncover that truth. Some may define insight as the ability to intuitively know what is going to happen, or simply as the capacity to understand the true nature of a situation. Both definitions hold a significant role in the play, not only for mor e obviousRead MoreOedipus Rex Is A Greek Tragedy Written By Sophocles1177 Words   |  5 PagesOedipus Rex is a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles. Sophocles, through writing this work along with Antigone and Oedipus at Colonus, became a legendary tragedian, and went off to produce several other works. This classic tragedy held great influence over Aristotle’s six components in his work, the Poetics, more specifically, over the component of plot and character. The birth of Oedipus Rex since spurred countless famous interpretations, including ones by the father of psychoanalysis himself, SigmundRead MoreOedipus The King Theme Essay1076 Words   |  5 Pages Oedipus the King: Themes of Blindness and Sight in the Sophocles Oedipus the King What does it mean to truly see? Do those blessed with normal vision really see? Oedipus the King by Sophocles’ is intertwined with many powerful themes and messages, establishing what real vision and real sight are. Sophocles’ play also demonstrates that sometimes in life we have to experience great loss in order to rediscover our true selves. In Oedipus’s quest for truth, lack of self-control, ignoranceRead MoreThroughout most famous Greek literature, a great hero usually saves the day. In the story of900 Words   |  4 Pagesusually saves the day. In the story of Oedipus though, the good man with one minor flaw goes through great pain. This pain in the play Oedipus Rex is the focal point for the whole play. Almost every aspect of the play builds up and foreshadows Oedipus’ fall from power, and entry into pain. Sophocles in his tragedy Oedipus Rex creates a mood of dramatic irony using the dualities of sight and blindness, and light and darkness. This dramatic irony highlights Oedipus’ hamartia and in doing so SophoclesRe ad More The Role of Teiresias in Sophocles Oedipus Rex Essay1410 Words   |  6 Pagesdestruction that Oedipus will encounter after he learns the truths of his life. Teiresias is also responsible for further developing the theme of blindness by using his own physical blindness to reveal to Oedipus his mental blindness. Lastly, Teiresias is ultimately responsible for imposing dramatic irony because of his great knowledge of the truth of Oedipus. In the play, Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, the minor character of Teiresias is responsible for foreshadowing Oedipus’ fate, developing the theme of blindnessRead MoreThe Value Of Leadership In Oedipus Rex By Sophocles1326 Words   |  6 PagesBased on evidence, Athenians valued bravery, confidence and heroic strength in their leaders. For example, the entire reason Oedipus from Oedipus Rex by Sophocles became king of Thebes is because he defeated the Sphinx that was guarding the city, saving the citizens (info from the backstory). On pa ge 11, a senator makes the comment, â€Å"if his bosom holds a grain of fear, curses like yours he never will abide.† The reader can assume the Athenians valued bravery because the senator makes a comment againstRead MoreThe True Vision of Blindness in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles Essay959 Words   |  4 Pagesthey are blind to it. In Oedipus Rex by Sophocles it is easy to see how blindness affects the transition of the story. It is said that blind people see â€Å"in a different manner† because they sense the world in a totally diferent way, such as Teiresias in the play. Oedipus Rex is a tragedy due to the content the Sophocles, the playwright, decided to include, first, murdering his father, king Laius, then marrying his mother, Jocasta, and ending by blinding himself. Oedipus has been blinded to the truthRead More The Dichotomy of Sight in Oedipus at Colonus Essay1185 Words   |  5 PagesThe Dichotomy of Sight in Oedipus at Colonus   A simple process formed the backbone of most Greek philosophy.   The ancients thought that by combining two equally valid but opposite ideas, the thesis and the antithesis, a new, higher truth could be achieved.   That truth is called the synthesis.   This tactic of integrating two seemingly opposite halves into a greater whole was a tremendous advance in human logic.   This practice is illustrated throughout Oedipus at Colonus  in regard to Sophocles’