Tiresias In Sophocles Oedipus The King

In Sophocles play, Oedipus the king, the relationship between Tiresias and Oedipus gradually progresses as Oedipus journeys towards his path of self-discovery. Sophocles juxtaposes both characters in order to illustrate Tiresias as a paradox to blindness. Tiresias is gifted immortality and ultimate divination power by the Gods and therefore is able to ironically see the truth and the fate that follows. Greek society generally viewed oracles as guidelines on how to live their life as they foreshadowed their destiny; therefore Tiresias’ character was created by Sophocles in order to embody this traditional Greek value. Sophocles created the character Tiresias, in order to showcase Oedipus’ flaws as he lacks the reason and insight to be aware of his own fate. In their first meeting, Oedipus clashes with Tiresias, which reveals his arrogant character and his lack of insight and self-knowledge. After an accusatory exchange by Oedipus, Tiresias responds,
“You’ll not be rid of me until I’ve spoken what I came to say. You do not frighten me. There’s not a …show more content…
Tiresias is seen to highlight the limitations of human knowledge as a result in living in a world where man’s destiny is at the hands of gods. The anxiety for Oedipus about not being aware of the truth is rooted within his reaction towards Tiresias’s monologue, mocking him about his lack of self-knowledge. Tiresias states that Oedipus is not at fault for the acts he committed, and concludes that it was fated that he should fulfill his oracle as Oedipus is ultimately is at the hands of Apollo. Tiresias further clarifies towards the audience that despite Oedipus being his father’s murder and a husband to his mother, this situation although highly regarded as forbidden act, his actions are natural as he was prophesized to fulfill his