ipl-logo

Motif Of Blindness In Oedipus

448 Words2 Pages

Blindness can mean that someone is unable to see or someone does not know the truth. Blindness in Oedipus means that someone does not know the truth. Blindness serves as a motif in multiple ways in Oedipus the King. The motif of blindness in Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles in 430 B.C., keeps Oedipus and Jocasta from the truth they are seeking.
Oedipus, the leader of Thebes, believes he is the best leader of the city, yet he is blind to the fact that someone might rule Thebes better than him. In the story, Tiresias, the blind prophet, points out to Oedipus that his leadership is not as strong as he thinks. Oedipus believes Tiresias is challenging his authority, and in doing so, claiming to be more intelligent. Oedipus responds to this …show more content…

Jocasta finds out that Oedipus is also her son. When she found out about Oedipus being her child, Jocasta “ ‘broken in through the gates, dashing past us, frantic, whipped to fury, ripping her hair out with both hands--straight to her rooms she rushed, flinging herself across the bridal-bed. . .’ “ (315). Jocasta dashes into her room because she is frighten to the fact that Oedipus is her son. Jocasta not accepting that Oedipus is her son and husband means that she is hiding from the truth.
Oedipus thinks that Polybus is his father; however, Polybus might not be his actual father. The Messenger and Oedipus discuss about Oedipus’ parents, and the messenger tries to tell Oedipus the truth by declaring ,“ ‘[Oedipus] you’d be covered with guilt, from both your parents.’ . . . ‘Don’t you know? You’ve really nothing to fear.’ ‘But why? If I’m their son--Merope, Polybus?’ ‘Polybus was nothing to you, . . . not in blood’ “ (305). The Messenger attempts to inform Oedipus that Polybus is not his actual father, but Oedipus is hidden from the truth his whole life. Oedipus is blind to the truth about his real family.
Oedipus and Jocasta can not seek the hidden truths in Oedipus the King. Many life lessons are found in this important piece of literature. Blindness can mean many things, but blindness can keep people away from the

Show More
Related

Blindness Vs Sight In Oedipus

926 Words | 4 Pages

He blind because of his arrogance. After the plague hits Thebes, Oedipus orders to see Tiresias and when he does he lets his arrogance get in the way. Once he became arrogant he blamed Tiresias. Tiresias they replied, “All right, King: you mock my blindness. Hear me well: you have your

Read More

August Wilson Quotes

1900 Words | 8 Pages

After finding his mother, Oedipus blinds himself and begs to be banished, which he is. Thus the prophecy became fulfilled. According to litcharts.com, “Oedipus, a man of action, describes blindness as an inability to see. Tiresias, the seer, describes it as an inability to see the truth. In calling Tiresias a false prophet, Oedipus shows his willingness to fight against any prophecy he disagrees with” (Study Guide).

Read More

Oedipus Rex Critical Lens

697 Words | 3 Pages

He finds out that his mother is his wife and that he killed his father, The former king. Finding all of this out, Oedipus becomes his own prosecutor, and then his own judge and punisher. This story suggests that knowledge is vain and constrained in its capacity to convey happiness to the individuals who look for it. Sophocles certainly wasn’t timid about the symbol sight vs. blindness; words like

Read More

Odysseus As A Skilled Leader In The Odyssey By Homer

1299 Words | 6 Pages

During their expedition, Odysseus’s crew comes upon an island of Cyclops where they meet a particular Cyclops, Polyphemus. After Polyphemus locks Odysseus and his men in his cave, Odysseus is able to trick the Cyclops into letting them out. Once Odysseus escapes, he boasts to Polyphemus, “Cyclops,/ if ever mortal man inquire/ how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him/ Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye:/ Laertes’ son, whose home’s on Ithaca!” (Homer 970-974). Odysseus’s negligence is portrayed through his arrogance and the way he reacts towards Polyphemus.

Read More

Sight And Blindness In King Oedipus The King

628 Words | 3 Pages

Master of Tragedies Neil Gaiman once said, “There’s none so blind as those who will not listen.” This quote relates to the theme of sight and blindness in “The Tragedy of Oedipus Rex”. King Oedipus was a man who would not accept the truth about himself. Physically he was not blind but in truth he was. There are three examples of Oedipus’s metaphysical condition of blindness which will be listed as follows.

Read More

Blindness Vs. Sight In Oedipus The King And Antigone

656 Words | 3 Pages

Oedipus became blind by trying to escape his fate, as well as the pride and arrogance he had developed. In the text the author states, “And if this killer lives within my house, and if I know him, then may I myself receive the curse I just now laid upon his head” (43).

Read More

Oedipus Rex Sight And Blindness Analysis

1075 Words | 5 Pages

In Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, the concept of sight and blindness is shown countless times throughout the play. In Oedipus Rex there is both literal blindness and figurative blindness. This play has a character who is blind, which is an example of literal blindness and a character who can see visually but unable to perceive the truth. The concepts of sight and blindness has a major role in Oedipus Rex. It lets the reader know that sight is not only based on what you see, but also based on one’s perspective, that the blind may see more than someone who is not blind, and that sometimes being able to see may not be a blessing but a curse. These are some of the roles of sight within Oedipus Rex.

Read More

What Is Oedipus Fatal Flaw

1053 Words | 5 Pages

Classical Studies professor, Peter T. Struck, argues that Oedipus’ “basic flaw is his lack of knowledge about his own identity. Moreover,

Read More

Examples Of Sight And Blindness In Oedipus The King

754 Words | 4 Pages

With the heroic light the people of Thebes have him under, he gladly baths in it. In an obstinate fashion he tells his subjects he will rid the kingdom of the plague by finding King Laius’ killer and goes forth to do so. This leads him to look to Tiresias, a prophetic man without sight. Oedipus then commands to get answers that will help him uncover the mystery of the death of the previous King. Tiresias respectively rejects to answering the questions remembering his place but Oedipus forges on his path for answers and an argument ensues: “…You are blind in mind and ears as well as in your eyes”

Read More

Blindness And Vision In Oedipus The King

686 Words | 3 Pages

The blindness of having the eyesight but cannot see and the blindness of poking his eyes so as not to see again the social evils that he had done (Calame, 1996). His metaphorical blindness came out of pride, ignorance and as a result of the people who knows the truth and hide it from him. The second bit of his blindness comes out of shame that makes him want to avoid seeing the cause of his actions. Comparing Teiresias and Oedipus the King, Teiresias has the insight and knowledge when Oedipus has eyesight without knowledge that is termed as ignorance (Calame, 1996). Oedipus out of pride and ability to see feels that he knows the truth while he is far from the truth.

Read More

Loss Of Knowledge In Oedipus The King

790 Words | 4 Pages

As more information is uncovered, Oedipus’ legacy is exponentially diminished as a childhood prophecy revolving around Oedipus, murdering his father and marrying his mother, is brought to light. Knowledge possesses the power to catalyse devastation in stages as demonstrated through Oedipus’ ignorance, his overwhelming curiosity, and his psychological anguish. From the beginning, Oedipus was raised in a legion of lies, believing Merope and Polybus to be his true parents. This cloak of ignorance not only shielded Oedipus from the knowledge of his biological parents, but allowed the prophecy to act as a catalyst for his fleeing of Corinth.

Read More

Sight Vs. Blindness In Sophocles Oedipus The King

1063 Words | 5 Pages

Tiresias reveals that Oedipus has been blind to the truth his whole life and when he finally does find the truth, he loses his physical vision. Due to the truth, Oedipus blinds himself. In this case, those who are blind ultimately do have a higher vision- the truth. The theme of sight versus blindness in Sophocles’ work Oedipus the King is portrayed through

Read More

Mood Messengers In Oedipus Rex

1252 Words | 6 Pages

(Sophocles 53). A clear contrast is given to the audience, as before this scene, Oedipus is filled with anger and the fear, and now, he is filled with satisfaction and joy of escaping the prophecy. However, this delight is then shattered by a drastic change, as the messenger mentions the truth that Oedipus shares no blood with his kind: “Because Polybus was

Read More

Metaphorical Blindness In Oedipus The King

1189 Words | 5 Pages

“It is now clear that the influence of suppression extends beyond areas of the brain associated with conscious memory. This may contribute to making unwanted visual memories less intrusive over time, and perhaps less vivid and detailed” (UC). This explains how Jocasta is blinded from comprehending the truth and that Oedipus is her son. Once she realizes that the prophecy is true, she contributes to Oedipus's metaphorical blindness by trying to stop him from learning about his inescapable fate. She tells him, “If you care for your life…stop now.

Read More

The Motif Of Light And Darkness In Oedipus The King

825 Words | 4 Pages

Sight is the ability to see beyond the surface of things, not just the openings of your eyes. The motif of light and darkness in the passage, Oedipus the King, clearly describes one’ s inability to envision the best of something. Sophocles presents Oedipus as a seemingly powerful and virtuous man bursting with great strength. Ever since Oedipus had defeated the Sphinx, it became apparent that this was the King that the Thebans have been pleading for. Only a great King can effortlessly assert themselves in a dominant manner over others, on the contrary, Oedipus had pushed it to the point where he overlooks the thoughts of smart individuals.

Read More

More about Motif Of Blindness In Oedipus

Related Topics

Open Document