Stumbling in the Darkness
People who are blind rely heavily on their other five senses and ask questions of others to gain insight into their surroundings and situations. In Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Oedipus the King was blind to his surroundings and his upbringing. In the context of this drama these three things: the blind prophet, Teiresias, Oedipus’ inability to ask questions, and his gouging of his eyes, create a sense of figurative and literal blindness throughout the work.
The blind prophet is a symbol of Oedipus’ oblivion of a world he knows little about. Oedipus calls the prophet to him in order that he may begin to clearly see. Oedipus desperately wants to know the truth but Teiresias denies him saying, “How dreadful knowledge of the
…show more content…
He knew that the oracle had told him that he would marry his mother and kill his father. Instead of questioning his marriage to Iokaste before going through with it, Oedipus does not think twice before marrying her and taking over the throne. Kreon questions Oedipus saying “First then: You married my sister?” (Scene 2, line 61). Oedipus responds with no hesitation “I married your sister” (Scene 2, line 62). Oedipus doesn’t know what Kreon knows because he does not ask. He does not think enough to question his situation. At the crossroads, in the back of his mind Oedipus knew that he was destined to kill his father. In his rage, he killed the men anyway. He did not stop to consider his destiny and choose to continue on his way peacefully. “But as this charioteer lurched towards me I struck him in my rage” (Scene 2, lines 283-285). He killed the men, one of whom was his father, without a second thought. Lastly, Oedipus assumes that he knows who is parents are. It is only when questioned that he discovers that he has been living blindly. Oedipus asks, “Am I not my parent’s son? (Scene 3, line 100). The messenger says, “Polybos was not your father” (Scene 3, line 101). Oedipus is not prepared to find out that he is not who he thought he