Oedipus Sight vs. sightlessness
What is sight? Is it understanding? Knowledge? Truth? Can the sighted be blind? Can a blind man see? When the truth becomes too terrible, does one choose not to see? In Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, the characters of Tiresias and Oedipus form a complete contrast to one another. Tiresias, a blind man, can "see" the truth about Oedipus, yet Oedipus, in all of his physical perfection, cannot. Although Tiresias is physically blind, he sees the truth from the beginning, while Oedipus, who has physical eyesight, is blind to his fate. However, in the end, Oedipus blinds himself when he learns the truth and finally sees. Both the characters of Tiresias and Oedipus prove that seeing the truth does not require sight. Although, Tiresias, a seer, is physically blind, he is clairvoyant and sees more truth than the sighted. Tiresias is "A blind man, who has his sight now." It is ironic that the only insight Oedipus has into the gods' will is through a blind man. He cannot see the workings of the world. However, his contact with the gods gives him more knowledge and truth than any of the sighted can observe. Oedipus demands that Tiresias tell him the information sent from the gods, but Tiresias refuses, knowing that the mention of such word
Both Tiresias and Oedipus prove that seeing the truth does not necessarily involve physical eyesight. Tiresias is literally blind while Oedipus is "blind" toward his prophecies.... , cursed in the lives I cut down with these hands!" That light, which represented all truth and knowledge, must be destroyed. Oedipus feels that his entire life has been cursed and the only way to remedy the situation was to block out that light from ever entering him again. He proclaims, "What good were eyes to me? Nothing I could see could bring me joy." Once Oedipus sees the truth, his entire world collapses. Although now he is physically blind, he, like Tiresias, now "sees". Although blind to the outside world, Tiresias could foresee the despair that truth would cause in the city of Thebes. Oedipus, "a simple man, who knows nothing", is unable to prevent his own downfall because of his own ignorance. Tiresias states, "How terrible - to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees!" Oedipus lived happily for 20 years not knowing any truth about his past. However, once Oedipus gains the knowledge of his past, his world will come tumbling down. The well-known phrase, "Ignorance is bliss", fully pertains to the life of Oedipus. While ignorant, Oedipus lives happily with his wife, Jocasta, and his children. It isn't until he sees reality that his world begin
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Approximate Word count = 928
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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