FREE ESSAY ON SOPHOCLES' OEDIPUS REX

SOPHOCLES' OEDIPUS REX

Throughout history there have been some astonishing Greek plays. Some plays were more
comedic in nature, so were romance plays and then there were some that were tragic plays.
One of the greatest Greek tragedy plays ever written was Oedipus the King.
Brilliantly conceived and written, Oedipus the King dramatizes the self-discovery and
tragic downfall of Oedipus, the King of Thebes. It tells the story about a young Greek
who was fated to murder his father, marry his mother, and in the process become the King
of Thebes, before ultimately meeting his downfall due to his own deeds. That makes this
play so fascinating is that there are numerous underlying themes within the story, and I
will attempt to shed light on one of these themes, that being the dramatic irony of
blindness. I shall do this by focusing on the words and actions of a minor character in
the play, Tiresias.
A minor character is a character that is developed in such a way to help reveal themes
and depict certain literary devices. Literary devices are used in mostly all literary
works, as they can help reveal pertinent information and also move the story along. In
the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, the minor character of Tiresias is responsible for
foreshadowing Oedipus' fate, developing the theme of blindness, and also illustrating
dramatic irony. Tiresias uses his fortune teller abilities to foreshadow the anguish and
destruction that Oedipus will encounter after he learns the truths of his life. Tiresias
is also responsible for further developing the theme of blindness by using his own
physical blindness to reveal to Oedipus his intellectual blindness. Lastly, Tiresias is
ultimately responsible for imposing dramatic irony because of his great knowledge of the
truth of Oedipus. In Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, the character of Tiresias is developed in
such a way that he utilizes many dramatic devices in order to reveal information and move
the play along. As a fortune teller, Tiresias is able to see the fate and destruction of
Oedipus' life. Tiresias uses his great ability to reveal to the reader the downfalls in
Oedipus' life that will soon occur because of his quest to know his fate. 
The character of Tiresias demonstrates the use of foreshadowing in order for the reader
to be aware of Oedipus' fate. 
"You have mocked at my blindness, but you, who have eyes, cannot see the evil in which
you stand; you cannot see where you are living, not with whom you share your house. Do
you even know who your parents are? Without knowing it, you are the enemy of your own
flesh and blood, the dead below and the living above here. The double-edged curse of your
mother and father, moving on dread feet, shall one day drive you from this land. You see
straight now but then you will see darkness. You will scream aloud on that day; there is
no place which shall not hear you, no part of Mount Cithaeron here which will not ring
its echo, on that day when you know the truth about your wedding, that evil harbor in
which you sailed before a fair wind. There is a multitude of horrors which you do not
even suspect, and they will equate you to yourself and to your own children." 
Oedipus the King, pg 28.
This passage foreshadows the destruction and misery that will soon be a part of Oedipus'
life. Tiresias also foreshadows the self-mutilation and destruction of Oedipus. The
following quotation clearly displays the use of foreshadowing by Tiresias, 
"You see straight now but then you will see darkness." 
Oedipus the King, pg 28.
The preceding quotation foreshadows the self-destruction that Oedipus will commit because
of the blindness that he holds towards his past and his fate. Tiresias explains to
Oedipus that even though he can physically see now, in the future he will be blinded
because he has learned the truth of his life. Tiresias clearly utilizes foreshadowing to
illustrate the downfalls that will occur in Oedipus' fated life.
Tiresias further develops the theme of blindness in Oedipus the King. Tiresias is a blind
man who can actually see the fated outcome of Oedipus' life. Even though Oedipus has full
use of his physical vision, he is completely blind of his past and his fate. Tiresias
uses his own physical blindness to make Oedipus aware of his own intellectual blindness
towards the truths of his life. Tiresias reveals to Oedipus that it is Oedipus' physical
sight that deters him from seeing the truths of his past. The proceeding passage
illustrates the theme of blindness as revealed by Tiresias to Oedipus. 
"You have mocked at my blindness, but you, who have eyes, cannot see the evil in which
you stand;"
Oedipus the King, pg 28.
This quotation clearly depicts the development of the theme of blindness, as Tiresias is
telling Oedipus that even though he can see, physically he is blinded by his quest to
know the truth of his life. Tiresias tells Oedipus that he cannot see the torment that is
a part of Oedipus' life. Tiresias reveals to the reader that to see physically does not
mean that you can see intellectually, as Oedipus clearly displays towards his past and
his fate. Dramatic irony is used to provide the reader with some relief, perhaps comical,
through the use of knowledge from one character or even the reader that another character
is oblivious to which, in turn, creates an ironic situation or atmosphere. Irony is
displayed throughout Oedipus the King and is ultimately displayed by Tiresias. Tiresias,
who is completely physically blind, can still 'see' the wretchedness of Oedipus' life. On
the other hand, Oedipus, who has complete use of his sight, is totally blind to his past
and his fate. 
The extent of Oedipus' intellectual blindness is assisted by his ongoing quest for the
truths of his life which ends up ruining him. It is ironic that a man who is blind
physically can see the suffering and madness that will come to Oedipus in the future due
to his ongoing drive for knowledge. 
"He will be revealed as brother and father of the children with whom he now lives, the
son and husband of the woman who gave him birth, the murderer and marriage-partner of his
father."
Oedipus the King, pg 31.
In this passage, Tiresias reveals his knowledge of Oedipus' past to him. Oedipus has just
learned the truth of his past from a man who cannot see which becomes very ironic to the
reader. It is at this point in the play where Oedipus learns that knowledge or sight of
his past brings evil, pain, and suffering into his life. It is quite ironic that a man of
such a physical disability can still use his intellectual vision to see the truth and
fate of Oedipus. Irony is brought by Tiresias many times in this play. It is especially
evident when Oedipus and Tiresias are first speaking to each other. 
"I say that without knowing it you are living in shameful intimacy with your nearest and
dearest. You do not see the evil in which you live."
Oedipus the King, pg 25.
Tiresias informs Oedipus of the evil that is seen within his life. Tiresias' words said
to Oedipus are extremely ironic because even though Tiresias cannot see physically he
says he can still 'see' the evil within Oedipus' life. It is also ironic that Tiresias
foreshadows the self-mutilation of Oedipus after he learns the truth of his past and
fate. It is ironic that a man who once did not see the truth of his past and fate does
not want to see physically because of his great suffering. 
"He ripped out the golden pins with which her clothes were fastened, raised them high
above his head, and speared the pupils of his eyes. "You will not see," he said, "the
horrors I have suffered and done. Be dark forever now - eyes that saw those you should
never have seen, and failed to recognize those you longed to see."
Oedipus the King, pg 93.
Since Tiresias had revealed to Oedipus his past, Oedipus has now found the truth of his
life and now that he can see intellectually, he cannot endure the suffering that the
truth has brought upon him.
It is quite ironic that Tiresias, who revealed to Oedipus the truth of his past is blind
physically and now that Oedipus has learned the truth, now blinds himself physically
because he cannot endure the pain and suffering that his quest for the truth has brought
upon him. 
Tiresias clearly displays the use of dramatic irony within the play. In the play Oedipus
the King by Sophocles, the minor character of Tiresias is responsible for foreshadowing
Oedipus' fate, developing the theme of blindness, and also illustrating dramatic irony.
These literary devices used by Tiresias all help contribute to and depict the pain and
suffering that is endured by Oedipus. Tiresias applies his knowledge of Oedipus to
revealing certain things to the reader and also to other characters in the play. Tiresias
is responsible for foreshadowing to the reader the destruction and evil that will be
evident in Oedipus' life once he is aware of the truths of his life. Tiresias also aids
in developing the theme of blindness by using his physical inability to see to reveal to
the reader and Oedipus the extent of his quest for knowledge and the evil that it will
bring upon his life. Lastly, Tiresias is responsible for demonstrating dramatic irony by
using his physical blindness to ultimately reveal to Oedipus his intellectual blindness.
Many people in society today are blind to their past, and how the out-come of certain
events affect them. Some of these people think that the only way to conquer this
blindness is to seek out the truths of their past in order to lead a more fulfilled
life.
Bibliography
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOK(S) :
Sophocles, Bernard Knox, "Oedipus the King." Washington Square Press, 
1st Edition, New York, 1994.
ON-LINE SITES :
http://www.pathguy.com/oedipus.htm
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~loxias/myth.htm
http://www.classicnote.com/ClassicNotes/Titles/oedipus/