Theme Of Blindness In Oedipus

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In Oedipus Rex, Sophocles uses blindness as an important motif to deliver a message by making Oedipus "blind" both literally and metaphorically. Throughout the story Oedipus tends to avoid "seeing" the truth about his prophecy, while Tiresias ' physical blindness allows him to "see" the truth. The symbolism of sight versus blindness motif is a representation of the idea of knowledge versus ignorance. Sophocles uses this important motif as the tragic flaw of Oedipus that leads him to a path of utter suffering. Oedipus is very sure about who he is and where he has come from. Throughout the story he avoids questioning that knowledge even when others have presented proof of credibility. Instead, Oedipus claims that everyone else around him is blind, …show more content…

Oedipus situation relates into Shakespeare quote “Ignorance is the curse of God; knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven”. Oedipus is an impulsive and passionate man, which leads him to fulfill the prophecy that has haunts him since birth. He departs the kingdom of Corinthian in order to avoid his fate of killing his father only to bring himself closer to the prophecy by killing his father on the way. He kills his father on a crossroad a symbol of choice, he chose to follow his own Will and escape his fate but he was blinded that will to the reality that he was accomplishing the fate he ran away from. Along the way he cannot control his temper and this personality flaw leads him to his our destruction. Blinded by ignorance and pride drives him to accuse Creon of trying to overthrow him. Sophocles use the blindness of Tiresias to point out the great power behind wisdom and understand through Oedipus situation. He sends the message that wisdom, knowledge are important aspects of life one should have because without them we are we will forced down a path of suffering and destruction. Humans have power when they have knowledge and insight but that power is liable to error because in reality we are all flawed with blindness to the truth and our own destruction can be an inner force that eats us out until we are forced to face the truth. With desires to find the truth and fear of finding the truth odious was fighting an inner losing battle within himself that drives to our having to carry the burden of guilt over the death of his father and being an embarrassment to his families legacy. This blindness motif plays into the plays theme that wisdom is knowledge and that the pursuit of knowledge can be futile. If wisdom was one of Oedipus strong suit he would have killed his father creating a chain reaction of

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