Oedipus - The Blind Truth

A detailed Summary of Oedipus - The Blind Truth


The use of imagery of vision and blindness are prevalent throughout Sophocle's "Oedipus the King". Tiresias, the prophet that Oedipus seeks out for guidance on the blight of the city, is blind but able to "see" and understand the truth of Oedipus's future while Oedipus has the sense of sight but is blind to the truth right before him. I found that the Chorus of the play also displays references to vision and blindness in their terror and fascination of the truth of Oedipus' fate.

The first lines spoken in the play by Tiresias read as follows: "How terrible - to see the truth / when the truth is only pain to him who sees! / I knew it well, but I put it from my mind, / else I never would have come. " (p. 608, ll 359-362). It is my belief that this statement from Tiresias shows that even though he is blind he knows the truth and also knows that this truth will cause great pain to those who do see. When Oedipus mocks and scorns the words of Tiresias, Tiresias stat


The Chorus of the play also makes reference to vision and blindness upon learning the truth of Oedipus's life. The Chorus states "the suffering, for all the world to see, / the worst terror that ever met my eyes. / What madness swept over you? What god, / what dark power leapt beyond all bounds, / beyond belief, to crush your wretched life?-- / godforsaken, cursed by the gods! / I pity you but I can't bear to look. / I've much to ask, so much to learn, / so much fascinates my eyes, but you ... I shudder at the sight." (p. 634, ll 1434-1443). I feel that in this passage the Chorus is saying that they can not even bear to look upon Oedipus after learning of the terrible things he has done. In addition to the horror of what Oedipus has done to his father and mother, it is now recognized that he is the cause of the blight that has stricken the city.

In conclusion, I feel that the use of imagery in blindness and vision is imperative to emphasize the irony and also heighten the drama of the p

Some common words found in the essay are:
Tiresias Tiresias, King Tiresias, Blind Truth, blind truth, vision blindness, eyes /, understand truth, learning truth, oedipus truth, truth oedipus's, / blind, chorus play, truth destiny,

Approximate Word count = 673
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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