Character
This passage of Oedipus Rex appears near the beginning of the play. Tiresias`s defensive statements occur shortly after Oedipus angers him with insulting language. This narration transpires shortly after Oedipus requests the name of Laius`s killer. Despite conversing with Tiresias in a civil, polite manner in the beginning, upon receiving denial in the form of riddles Oedipus reacts with an irrational rage. The anger that erupts inside Oedipus induces Tiresias`s condemning words that predict Oedipus’s downfall. This event emerges as a result of Oedipus’s hubris which leads to his demise. Tiresias`s lines in the passage reflects the derivation for which Oedipus`s fatal flaw, hubris, arises in his character through his comments, riddles, and sense of knowledge.
Tiresias`s response to Oedipus`s ignorance exhibits the conflict that arises between characters in the story once Oedipus`s hubris breaks through, “I say to you, the man whom you have looked for/ as you pronounced your curse, your decrees/ on the bloody death of Laius- he is here!”(3-4) Oedipus challenged Tiresias and his godly skill through insulting the very nature of his occupation. Responding to this with disbelief and frustration, Tiresias is provoked
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The prophet conveys the all-knowling knowledge that he possesses in the play. This same belief is held by Oedipus which thwarts him from acknowledging Tiresias`s intellect. Oedipus`s belief that he contains a proficient intellect and status over others leads to the condemnation of irrational actions. Oedipus blinds himself from seeing the knowledge and truth Tiresias embodies through believing his intellect is