Every short story, essay or play has a specific theme or message the author tries to have readers understand. Theme is an important thing for authors to push as it gives the reader a stronger and lasting impression. In Oedipus by Sophocles the theme of blindness is used. Sophocles uses blindness in a couple different ways. Although some characters suffer from blindness others become blind to the truth. Tiresias suffers from blindness as he is the blind prophet. Oedipus has the physical ability to see however, he becomes blind to the truth.
Tiresias was the physically blind prophet. Tiresias informed Laius and Jocasta of a prophecy that the baby boy they had would grow up to kill his father and marry his mother, so they sent a servant to bring the boy to a mountain to be left to die. During the play Tiresias is asked for help by Oedipus. Due to the plague infecting the city Oedipus asks Tiresias for help in finding the killer of Laius. Tiresias who knows the truth but doesn’t want to inform Oedipus says it would be best for him to go home. After Oedipus has guards twist Tiresias’s arms back he begins to talk. Tiresias tells Oedipus “I say you are the murderer of the man Whose killer you pursue.” (373-74). Tiresias tells Oedipus that he is the killer …show more content…
Oedipus and Jocasta both started the play being blind to the truth but ended completely different. Jocasta after being blind to the truth was now dead. Oedipus who started out the play blind to the truth ended the play by physically blinding himself. However, Tiresias started out the play physically blind and he ended the play the same way. Being physically blind Tiresias deals with his blindness because he knows he can never see again, he accepted being blind. Being bling to the truth caused Oedipus and Jocasta’s lives to completely change while Tiresias’s life stayed the same. In the play blindness led to the truth while the truth ended up leading to
Tiresias was the physically blind prophet. Tiresias informed Laius and Jocasta of a prophecy that the baby boy they had would grow up to kill his father and marry his mother, so they sent a servant to bring the boy to a mountain to be left to die. During the play Tiresias is asked for help by Oedipus. Due to the plague infecting the city Oedipus asks Tiresias for help in finding the killer of Laius. Tiresias who knows the truth but doesn’t want to inform Oedipus says it would be best for him to go home. After Oedipus has guards twist Tiresias’s arms back he begins to talk. Tiresias tells Oedipus “I say you are the murderer of the man Whose killer you pursue.” (373-74). Tiresias tells Oedipus that he is the killer …show more content…
Oedipus and Jocasta both started the play being blind to the truth but ended completely different. Jocasta after being blind to the truth was now dead. Oedipus who started out the play blind to the truth ended the play by physically blinding himself. However, Tiresias started out the play physically blind and he ended the play the same way. Being physically blind Tiresias deals with his blindness because he knows he can never see again, he accepted being blind. Being bling to the truth caused Oedipus and Jocasta’s lives to completely change while Tiresias’s life stayed the same. In the play blindness led to the truth while the truth ended up leading to