Who Sees but is Blind
What you can be blind but still see? What about something that you can never see, or something that only the blind can see? Oedipus begins the story as a noble king with the ability to see, but ignorant to the vision, and refusal to learn and accept the prophecy. Over the course of the story, though, many people, including Teiresias, a blind prophet, try to show him the truth. Throughout Oedipus Rex, Oedipus experiences extreme physical changes, symbolic of his mental changes, as he learns more about himself. In the first scene, Oedipus calls upon Teiresias to help make clear the prophecy, and clarify who Oedipus is. Teiresias offers cryptic messages that Oedipus cannot understand. Frustrated by this Oedipus turns …show more content…
You can not hurt me Or any other man who sees the sun. (Oedipus, 21)
A revelation that will fail to please. A blind man, Who has his eyes now; a penniless man, who is rich now… Enough. Go think that over. (Teiresias, 25)
Oedipus referred to himself as a “man who sees the sun,” an example of irony within foreshadowing. He contrasts himself with Teiresias, because he can literally see the sun, but Teiresias is the one who sees the prophecy. Teiresias uses dramatic irony and foreshadows Oedipus’ future. He tells him that the man Oedipus is searching for (which is himself) is “A blind man, Who has eyes now,” foreshadowing a future event. Saying that despite having his eyes, Oedipus is blind to the prophecy, and who he is. Teiresias then becomes tired of arguing with Oedipus, as he is still refusing to see what he is being told.
When it becomes know who Oedipus really is, and what he has done, his mother kills herself, and Oedipus makes some dramatic, rash decisions.
For the King ripped from her gown the golden brooches That were her ornament, and raised them, and plunged them down Straight into his own eyeballs, crying, “No more, No more shall you look on the misery about me, The horrors of my own doing! (Second Messenger,
What you can be blind but still see? What about something that you can never see, or something that only the blind can see? Oedipus begins the story as a noble king with the ability to see, but ignorant to the vision, and refusal to learn and accept the prophecy. Over the course of the story, though, many people, including Teiresias, a blind prophet, try to show him the truth. Throughout Oedipus Rex, Oedipus experiences extreme physical changes, symbolic of his mental changes, as he learns more about himself. In the first scene, Oedipus calls upon Teiresias to help make clear the prophecy, and clarify who Oedipus is. Teiresias offers cryptic messages that Oedipus cannot understand. Frustrated by this Oedipus turns …show more content…
You can not hurt me Or any other man who sees the sun. (Oedipus, 21)
A revelation that will fail to please. A blind man, Who has his eyes now; a penniless man, who is rich now… Enough. Go think that over. (Teiresias, 25)
Oedipus referred to himself as a “man who sees the sun,” an example of irony within foreshadowing. He contrasts himself with Teiresias, because he can literally see the sun, but Teiresias is the one who sees the prophecy. Teiresias uses dramatic irony and foreshadows Oedipus’ future. He tells him that the man Oedipus is searching for (which is himself) is “A blind man, Who has eyes now,” foreshadowing a future event. Saying that despite having his eyes, Oedipus is blind to the prophecy, and who he is. Teiresias then becomes tired of arguing with Oedipus, as he is still refusing to see what he is being told.
When it becomes know who Oedipus really is, and what he has done, his mother kills herself, and Oedipus makes some dramatic, rash decisions.
For the King ripped from her gown the golden brooches That were her ornament, and raised them, and plunged them down Straight into his own eyeballs, crying, “No more, No more shall you look on the misery about me, The horrors of my own doing! (Second Messenger,