Tiresias And Oedipus Comparison

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Recommended: Antigone political and moral questions raised in the drama

In this play, characters’ versions of the truth are very different.

One situation included Oedipus and Tiresias arguing over Laius’ murderer. Tiresias didn’t want to explain the horrible truth to Oedipus, but when Oedipus says “ In my mind, you are one of the men who killed Laius!”(7) ,he angrily replies by saying “It is YOU! You are the wound! You pollute this unfortunate city!”(7) He says this as he has been angered by Oedipus’ arguing, as he is too absorbed in the search to render that he could be the murderer.

Another situation affected each character’s point of view involves Oedipus and Jocasta arguing over Creon’s loyalty. After Tiresias accuses Oedipus of being the murderer, he thinks Creon is plotting against him and tells Jocasta “I caught him plotting against me, Jocasta! An evil mind spins evil webs for his own benefit.”(13) Jocasta then defends Creon by saying “By all the gods, Oedipus, Have some faith in him! At least have some faith in the gods by whom he swears; and then in me and in all these folk who stand before you!”(13) This shows that she wants to fairly argue and stop any false accusations from either side. This relates to the thesis because Oedipus has a much different view on the situation than Jocasta …show more content…

Oedipus starts by asking “Throw me out of this land quickly so that no other Theban eyes will see me.”(30) This shows he wants to be responsible for his fate. Creon responds to this by saying “I would have done so, but I find it necessary to seek godly advice on the matter.”(30) This shows that he would like the gods to decide Oedipus’ punishment so he doesn’t decide anything ethically wrong.

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