OEDIPUS REX

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles



Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

In Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, the theme of being blind is repeated over and over again. In fact, anything having to do with sight or even the eyes is repeated. Tiresias, the blind prophet, is the most obvious example of this theme. And it is quite ironic that he informs Oedipus of his future and Oedipus gouges his eyes out with his wife's, Jocasta, brooches at the end of the play. There are more examples, some of which are quite subtle, throughout the much of the play. Even though some of them are extremely blunt. This essay will prove a thesis regarding the “blindness” used as a theme in this essay. Not just physical blindness, but intellectual blindness as well. The blindness issue is an effective contrasting method for Oedipus at different points in the play. Simply saying "blindness", however, is a little ambiguous. It can be broken down into two components: Oedipus's ability to "see" (ignorance or lack thereof), and his willingness to "see". The word "see" can be used in both contexts here. Throughout the play, these two components are always at the center of the action. Therefore the thesis statement id: Blindness in the play by the author Sophocles, Oedipus Rex, is portrayed physically and physiologically, causing Oedipus to not be able to put the pieces together and behave rationally.

At the beginning of the play, Oedipus is speaking to his people who are experiencing the plague that has overcome the city of Thebes. He says to his people, "I would be blind to misery not to pity my people kneeling at my feet. (Line 14)" It is evident that Oedipus would be ignorant if he doesn't acknowledge the suffering which his people are experiencing. When Oedipus speaks to Tiresias, he says, "Blind as you are, you can feel all the more what sickness haunts our city. (344)" Oedipus admits that Tiresias is blind but the prophet can help overcome the plague brought on by Apollo. Tiresias then responds to Oedipus. He says, "How terrible - to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees! (359)" This is a quite obvious hint to Oedipus about his future. As their discussion turns into a quarrel, Oedipus begins to insult the prophet. He says, "You've lost your power, stone-blind, stone-deaf - senses, eyes blind as stone!(423)" Oedipus also says, "Blind, lost in the night, endless night that nursed you! You can't hurt me or anyone else who sees the light - you can never touch me. (425)" The irony is very obvious here since Oedipus is the one who is as blind as Tiresias in his own sense. Tiresias is literally blind while Oedipus is "blind" towards his prophecies. Oedipus will eventually blind himself but he is being ignorant towards his own future. In response to the insults, Tiresias becomes more blunt about the information he knows. He says, "You with your precious eyes, you're blind to the corruption ...