Blindness And Sight In Sophocles Oedipus The King

In Oedipus the King by Sophocles, the motif of blindness and sight, the imagery of light and dark, and the literary device of dramatic irony are each evident throughout the play. Oedipus is abandoned at birth because his parents; Jocasta and Laius are told that he will grow up to kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus is adopted and later told the same prophecy that was told to his parents. Oedipus leaves Corinth for Thebes in an effort to escape his fate. Oedipus kills Laius on his way to Thebes and marries the widowed queen; Jocasta. Throughout the play, the motif of sight and blindness, the imagery of light and dark, and the literary device of dramatic irony, are evident. The motif of blindness and sight helps illustrate the fact

Sight symbolizes truth while blindness symbolizes ignorance and lies. For example, Tiresias is blind, but can see the truth. As the author states, “My lord, there lives a man who with a king’s eyes sees the secrets of a king” (16; ep. 1). Even though Tiresias cannot see, he knows the truth. Oedipus knows that Tiresias is an oracle and can see the truth. As the author states, “Though you cannot see, you must surely feel” (18; ep. 1). Oedipus infers that even though the man cannot physically see, he can see the truth. This motif is also evident through Oedipus’ ignorance. Unlike Tiresias, Oedipus can see, but is blind to the truth. As Tiresias states, “I say you see and still are blind-appalling: blind to your origins and to a union in your house” (23; ep. 1). Oedipus fails to realize his own fate while Tiresias knows the truth. The motif of blindness and sight in Oedipus the King, helps illustrate the fact that even though Tiresias is blind, he can see Oedipus’ fate while Oedipus can see but cannot see the truth to his fate as if he is

In Oedipus the King, light symbolizes truth, and darkness symbolizes ignorance and lies. After realizing that he had fulfilled the prophecy and murdered his father and married his mother, Oedipus gouges out his eyes. In doing this, Oedipus immerses himself in darkness. As Oedipus states, “Light of my days, go dark” (67; ep. 4). Oedipus is in a state of such sorrow and despair that he feels the need to gouge out his own eyes. Oedipus blinds himself when he realizes what he has done. As the author states, “To go dark for all time blind to what you never should have seen” (72; ep. 4). Oedipus blinds himself because he realizes the mistakes that he has made and feels remorse. After Oedipus blinds himself, he has nothing left to live for. As Oedipus states, “I am deserted, dark” (72, ep. 4). Oedipus blinds himself and is erratic and depressed. In Oedipus the King, the imagery of light and dark helps to reinforce the idea that light symbolizes truth and that darkness symbolizes lies and