Oedipus the King Blindness Essay

In the books King Lear and Oedipus Rex, the role of blindness is an interesting element used by both authors. In both books, the authors use the role of literal blindness to compare the characters that were blind figuratively. The characters in both books that were literally blind in the beginning of the books had more knowledge than the noble kings. The characters that could see, were blind to the truth, which eventually was the dissolution of them and their kingdoms. In Oedipus Rex, Tiresias was

The tragic Greek play Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, concludes as the protagonist, Oedipus, discovers that he has slept with his own mother. Disgusted with himself, he gouges out his own eyes and begs to be exiled. This ending is appropriate because it completes a metaphor used throughout the play; this metaphor helps to develop the play’s ideas and Oedipus’ character. Furthermore, the play’s conclusion emphasizes one of the play’s themes: humans have little to no control over their own fates. Throughout

Blindness in Oedipus The King (Rex) What is sight? Is it just the ability to recognize one’s surroundings or is there more? Is it knowledge? Is it understanding? Can a blind man see? Can the sighted be blind? And beyond, when the truth is too terrible, do we choose not to see? The phrase "too see" has so very many connotations. One meaning is to know or to understand and the other is based on the physical aspects of things. As humans, we are distracted by the physical world, which causes us

Sophocles' Oedipus the King is a Greek tragedy. In the play, Oedipus and his parents try to avoid the prophecy that has been cast upon them. The prophecy stated that Oedipus would kill his father, Laius, and marry his mother, Jocasta. While trying to outwit the divine will of the gods, they ultimately play right into fate’s hands and the prophecy becomes true. Throughout the duration of the story, Sophocles uses dramatic techniques such as the blindness motif to get the lesson across to the audience

Seeing Through Blindness Julius Caesar once said that “men in general are quick to believe that which they wish to be true”. Because of their pride, people tend to only believe the ideas that will not damage their pride. However, because of this, one often disregards certain parts of the truth. Oedipus, because of his earlier successes, believes that he knows the correct truth concerning his role in Laius’ death and refuses to believe anyone that says otherwise. In the play Oedipus Rex, Sophocles

The Deeper Meaning of Sight and Eyes in Sophocles' Oedipus The King In Sophocles' play, "Oedipus The King," the continuous references to eyes and sight possess a much deeper meaning than the literal message. These allusions are united with several basic underlying themes. The story contains common Ancient Greek philosophies, including those of Plato and Parmenides, which are often discussed and explained during such references. A third notion is the punishment of those who violate the law of

but do not see.”- (Jose Sermago) In this play, figurative blindness and ignorance had a huge role when it came to the main character Oedipus developing throughout the play. Although Oedipus was not literally blind, he was ignorant and figuratively blind to the truth about who was the real murderer of King Laius.“Oedipus Rex” was a Greek play performed around 429 B.C. and was written by Sophocles. The ignorance of the main character, Oedipus, led to a dramatic ending in the book. He gained knowledge

In the play, Oedipus the King, there are many references to blindness and sight throughout. Certain characters have physically limited blindness such as the prophet Teiresias, but have the ability to “see” the truth. While other characters such as Oedipus, have perfect vision, but they’re “blind” to the truth. In the play, sight is used to represent knowledge. An example would be how prophets or seers, can “see” the truth behind what is really going on. Throughout the play, Oedipus is “blind” to

Oedipus Paper Sophocles' tragedy, Oedipus the King, tells the story of the leader of Thebes who unknowingly kills his father, takes his place as king, and marries the queen, who is his mother. In Sophocles’ tragedy, the paradox of sight as in seeing the truth, and prophecy and blindness in terms of not seeing and not accepting truth and trying to evade prophecy is present throughout the play. A paradox is “a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses

Oedipus, throughout his journey, appears to be ignorant but the reality is that he was subconsciously repressing the truth for his own benefit. Throughout the play, Sophocles creates this relationship between the motifs of sight and blindness. These motifs are immensely important and very obviously portrayed. They give us the dramatic irony of Oedipus being blind to the truth but being able to see in real life. Oedipus is not aware of his doing so, but he constantly represses memories and changes