The Theme Of Blindness In Oedipus Rex Essay

Sophocles’s award winning tragedy Oedipus Rex can be at times disturbing and gory, but it is attention grabbing overall. In a world where people are destined for good or evil and knowledge is blinded by ignorance, one can say it is a tale about life. A life in which one’s worst fears became reality and the truth is hidden behind a clear screen. The various symbols of Oedipus Rex help to illustrate the theme that the truth will always be revealed no matter how much one may deny it. The symbol of sight versus blindness represents the idea that Oedipus has sight but is blinded entirely by the fate the gods have placed upon him. In the play, Oedipus becomes furious at Teiresias for telling him the truth of his prophecy, so in denial he begins…

Oedipus Rex is considered to be one of the world’s greatest tragedies while also being one of the oldest. Despite being written second, it was the first part of the theban trilogy written by Sophocles. The themes in Oedipus Rex are crucial to the play’s long lasting appeal. The various symbols throughout the story help to illustrate the theme that one often encounters their fate on the path they take to avoid it. Oedipus’ scars located on his feet, along with his name, are symbols representing…

An Analysis of the Uses of Dramatic Irony throughout Oedipus Rex Dramatic irony is extremely prevalent throughout the entirety of the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. Dramatic Irony is defined as when the audience knows something that the characters do not. Through the chorus, the audience is told in the introduction that Oedipus is guilty. Throughout the rest of the play, the audience is aware of Oedipus’ guilt while he is trying to solve the crime on his own. Sophocles uses the literary device…

Sight and Blindness in Oedipus Rex It is easy for a person that has great vision and can see clearly to be blinded by the truth. The Greek play, Oedipus the King by Sophocles is the story of Oedipus, a man who becomes the king of Thebes, while unwittingly fulfilling the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his own mother. One of the main themes in this play is blindness: physical blindness, which is lacking the sense of sight; and intellectual blindness, which is the refusal to accept…

“Creon thus serves as a pivot about which Oedipus turns in his contrasting phrases of self-confidence and abasement” (Kirkwood 70). He not only ignored others but even accused them of the crime. “Oedipus is proud and overconfident; he harbors unjustified suspicions against Teiresias and Creon” (Dodds 19). Rather than acknowledging the information of other characters, Oedipus was threatened by their attempts to help. “The suspicion is confirmed, the connection between Creon and Teiresias is…

One allusion present in Oedipus Rex is the allusion to the Sphinx. The Sphinx is referenced with the priest describing the current situation of Thebes in the beginning. The priest provides some context for this play by saying that Oedipus “save us from the Sphinx, that flinty singer, and the tribute we paid to her so long” (Prologue, 38). The Sphinx was basically a monster that plagued the town of Thebes prior to Oedipus’ arrival. Oedipus saved Thebes from the Sphinx and its plague by answering…

the best plays such as Oedipus the King, Antigone, and Oedipus at Colonus. The play we are going to write about is one of his best play name Oedipus Rex. The prophecy is one of the primary part of the Oedipus, the King of Thebes. He learned that his beautiful city is devastated by plague and fire. Because of that, Creon his brother-in-law was sent to the house of Apollo to find a solution to end the plague. After returning from the oracle at Delphi, he learned that the plague will be…

Oedipus Rex is a tragic tale of a man whose fate betrays him. In this play Oedipus is involved in a prophecy that for his whole life his was ignorant to. Oedipus knows about the prophecy, and tries to avoid it by leaving his home. By doing this, Oedipus unknowingly fulfills the prophecy. Oedipus later has to deal with the repercussions of these actions. Once he accepts what he has done, Oedipus gets a sense of clarity even though he is still in pain. The various symbols throughout Oedipus Rex…

Oedipus Rex has many different themes, motifs, and symbols, all of which can be interpreted differently. Blindness and sight are both examples of motifs used in Oedipus. Often in Theban plays, the image of clear vision is a metaphor for insight and knowledge. Both literal and metaphorical references to eyesight and insight are both found in Oedipus. The first blindness that was encountered was Oedipus. A plague had stricken Thebes and citizens gathered outside of his palace asking him to take…

epidemic which was devastating spreads throughout the city of Thebes, during that time Oedipus Rex is the King. Oedipus wants to know how to end the suffering of his people; therefore, he seeks the help of Teiresias, a blind prophet for answers. Teiresias tells Oedipus that the plague will end after revealing murderer of the earlier King, King Laius. Oedipus wants to be the hero, curses the killer of Laius. Teiresias predicts Oedipus as the killer of Laius. Oedipus mocks Tiresias's blindness…