Concepts Of Sight in Sophocles’ Play Oedipus

Explained by Aristotle, the characteristics of a good tragic hero must be “better than we are,” a man who is superior to the average man in some way. A man one might say closely resembles Oedipus Rex. But Oedipus is more imperfect than perfect, as he commits his actions in haste and is unable to see what is happening around him. His hamartia was the main reason for his downfall. In the play Oedipus Rex, Oedipus demonstrates his errors in judgement through his hubris, blindness, and foolishness and therefore is at fault.

Throughout Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, there are many references to sight, blindness, and seeing the truth. Characters, such as Tiresias, are able to accurately predict what Oedipus’ fate will be through their power to see the truth in a situation. Oedipus maintains a pompous and arrogant personality throughout the play as he tries to keep control of the city of Thebes and prove the speculations about his fate as falsities. Ironically, although Tiresias is physically blind, he is able to correctly predict how Oedipus’ backstory will unfold, while other characters, such as Jocasta and Oedipus are oblivious to the truth even though they can physically see. Thus, we can conclude that the power of “seeing the truth” deviates greatly from the power of sight in reality and can lead to an expedited fate or a detrimental occurrence.

Though Antigone never boasted about defying the law, Creon is so self-conscious that he sees the act as much more than it really is. Finally, Creon does realize that he must break away from his ignorant ways. By the time he realizes that he should “not fight with destiny” (v 101) and that “the laws of the Gods are mighty” (v 108), it is too late. He was too oblivious and caught up in his own self-consciousness that he was not able to make the right decision quickly enough. Though Creon did eventually understand his mistakes, it was not enough to save him from the wrath of the

Oedipus is a clever man, but he is blind to the truth and refuses to believe Teiresias's warnings. He suffers because of his hamartia. I t is this excessive pride fuels his own destruction. I would just say Oedipus is a tragic hero. Foolishly he leaves his home in Corinth without further investigating the oracle's words.

Creon had numerous opportunities to realize he had too much pride, and that his pride was hurting himself and others, but he was too blind t... ... middle of paper ... ...lines 1445-1446). Creon just could not take the guilt anymore, knowing that the cause of their death was his fault, all because of his excessive pride. Pride can be portrayed as confidence, it can bring one great success, but it is a deadly emotion that can also take everything away from one when it exaggerates. When it is too late to fix an issue, the only thing left are regrets of what could have been said or done to prevent the obstacles caused. Works Cited Sophocles, Robert Fagles, Bernard MacGregor Walker.

Oedipus the King - The Character Transformations of Oedipus Through the character of Oedipus, Sophocles shows the consequences of defying the divine order. Oedipus served Thebes as a great ruler, loved by his subjects; but, like most in the human race, he slipped through the cracks of perfection. Oedipus had many faults, but it was primarily the tragic flaw of hubris, arrogance from excessive pride, which doomed his existence, regardless of the character attributes that made him such a beloved king. He was doomed for downfall since his very beginning, because "to flee your fate is to rush to find it" (Oedipus Rex). Oedipus, throughout this work, seems more than a merely passive player lost in the hands of fate.

The Worst Enemy in Oedipus the King In the Greek tragety Oedipus the King Tiresias speaks the truth when he tells Oedipus, "you are your own worst enemy." He is too determined to find out who he is, that shouldn't be so important to himself. He also, is too proud to listen to the gods. He thinks he can get out of following through on his fate. So, it is he that dooms himself.

This is like the characters in Oedipus Rex, who look at the details and circumstances of everyday life and pretend not to see what is actually happening. Oedipus’ family have knowledge of their oracles but, never pay attention to them when they try to find the answers. The play illustrates three main prophecies that are unsuccessfully avoided: Oedipus being the son of Laios and Iokaste, the murderer of his father, and the son who would lay with his mother and give birth to cursed children. Oedipus and his parents never realize they were once family. Oedipus doesn’t agree with the prophecy Teiresias describes of him.

He displayed a fatal flaw that drove him mad near the end but also understood that his predicament was caused by him alone. Antigone cannot be the tragic hero because although she possesses several flaws, she experiences no true illumination. She does not met the required the traits for the tragic hero. Creon wanted to protect the state above personal cost, a task that was achieved in a way. Creon is the tragic hero in Sophocles Antigone because he can’t accept a diminished view of himself; he endures great suffering and is enlightened in the end.

Odysseus knows that if Polyphemus knows his name it means nothing but trouble but he doesn’t care because his arrogance takes over and the thought of being the almighty warrior who slayed Polyphemus than take care of his crew and get home safe. It is his arrogance over his