Oedipus the King by Sopohocles Essay -- Oedipus King Sophocles Essays

Oedipus the world power by SopohoclesWorks Cited Not Includedthrough out the play, Oedipus the King, Sophocles refers to site and blindness to relate attitudes and knowledge of the past. The irony of sight in this play can be marked by Oedipus in top executive to sack up that which is evident to the reader. His extreme pridefulness is his tragic flaw. It blinds him from the truth. Oedipus egregious himself symbolizes his increase of knowledge, his sensitivity, and gives him the ability to lastly count. He is now able to see the flaws of his hubris attitude, and the consequences of which his pride brought to him. From the very beginning, Oedipus was blinded by pride. With the city of Thebes dying, Creon comes from the god Apollo to recite how to remain the plaque. An example of Oedipus hubris is shown when he leave behind not go into the palace to chat with Creon. He insists on talking in front of the crowd of citizens. Creon tells that the tho way to stop the plaque is to find the killer of Lauis, the previous king. King Oedipus consents this task lightly, for he is the one who solved the riddle of the Sphinx, he surely could find the killer of royalty. This is another example of his tragic flaws, pride. When Oedipus vows to do everything in his power to find Laius killer, the leader of the chorus advises Oedipus that no one knows the identity element of the murderer, and that the god Apollo should name him to the people. Oedipus replies to force the gods to act against their give- no soldiery has the power.(320) He has called on the blind seer who knows what the god Apollo sees. It is ironic that Tiresias can see what Oedipus can not though he suffers of old age and forcible blindness. Tiresias, who is able to see the truth of the downfall of Oedipus thorough the oracles prophecy even in his own blindness, becomes the comparative image from which Oedipus is judged, both(prenominal) by himself and by others. Throughout the conversation between Oedipus and Tiresias, he will not divulge the information King Oedipus is longing to hear. Id rather not cause pain to you or me. So why thisuseless interrogation? Youll get nothing from me (321) Tiresias says. This enrages Oedipus and he blames him for the murder, and then for conspiring with Creon to take his throne. These accusations Oedipus makes are caused by his fear of the truth he is too blind to see. This blame causes an argument... ...dentity from this man, that he even speaks of torture to get him to talk. From the way the man speaks to the other shepherd, Damn you, shut your mouthquite (346) You can tell that Oedipus is not going to like what this messenger has to say. He to owns the knowledge that is blinding Oedipus. But he will soon know and the knowledge of himself will set him free, and he will be able to understand his faults. When Oedipus finally realizes that the prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother had came true, he was over come with sh ame. He goes to Jocastas quarters, where she had taken her own life, and gouged out his eyes with the broach that she wore. In the end, Oedipus gains insight into his life, his failings, and the nature of the gods and fate exclusively through his own blindness, only through accepting the truth of his deficiency of vision, and his inability to impact fate. Oedipus gains a compassionate, though tragic outlook because of his mental ability to envision that which he could never see while he had his corporeal sight. Through his blindness, Oedipus is finally allowed the ability to see himself, and this is the irony of sight in Sophocles play Oedipus the King.