Warning: Use of undefined constant referer - assumed 'referer' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 102

Warning: Use of undefined constant host - assumed 'host' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 105

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 106

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 109
Oedipus-concepts Of Sight - Online Term Papers

Oedipus-concepts Of Sight

The concept of sight is one of the major motifs throughout Sophocles’ play Oedipus the King. The play revolves primarily around series of events caused by many people’s insight or lack there of. Oedipus does not see that he is caught up in a web of cruel destiny that he can not escape. The gods demonstrate foresight and insight into the play. In addition to this, Tiresias has physical blindness but also has prophetic insight. Finally, both Oedipus and Jocasta portray types of mental blindness and shortsightedness. These are all examples of different uses of sight in the play Oedipus the King.
Oedipus is a hero, but sometimes he can not see the reality of this. He goes ...

Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers

the Oracle’s prophecy following him. No matter what Oedipus does, he has no control over what the gods have predetermined. The gods also punish the people of Thebes with hard times since it is these people who brought Oedipus into the land as their king. The gods do this in order to make the people see through Oedipus’ extreme pride and quick temper. The gods apparently think that the only way to get them to see what Oedipus has done is by causing the city pain and suffering. The gods use their insight to affect Oedipus’ life, family and city.
Although the gods do not initially favor Oedipus, his kingdom sees him as a noble ruler. Oedipus’ pride prevents him from seeing the truth and this leads to his great fall. His pride forces him to kill his father because he refuses to pay a toll and give up the right of way. Oedipus is so blinded by his pride that he can not accept the fact that he can not avoid his fate placed upon him by the gods. It is because ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.

Already a member? Login

tell Oedipus that he has killed his own father. He tells Oedipus “You do not see the evil in which you live” (25). It takes a blind prophet to see that it is Oedipus who has murdered Laius. Even so, Oedipus states “ You are blind, your ears and mind as well as eyes” (25). Therefore, when Oedipus insults Tiresias and accuses him of being a false prophet, he is also attacking the gods. This shortsighted decision made by Oedipus can cause no good. If what Tiresias has said is true, then Oedipus is quickly sealing his own doom by insulting the gods furthermore. Tiresias has a very different type of sight than that of Oedipus. Tiresias can see the truth even ...

Succeed in your coursework without stepping into a library.
Get access to a growing library of notes, book reports,
and research papers in 2 minutes or less.

CITE THIS PAGE:

APA
MLA
Chicago
Turabian

Oedipus-concepts Of Sight. (2006, August 8). Retrieved January 22, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Oedipus-concepts-Of-Sight/50430

"Oedipus-concepts Of Sight." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 8 Aug. 2006. Web. 22 Jan. 2025. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Oedipus-concepts-Of-Sight/50430>

"Oedipus-concepts Of Sight." Essayworld.com. August 8, 2006. Accessed January 22, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Oedipus-concepts-Of-Sight/50430.

JOIN NOW

Join today and get instant access to this and 50,000+ other essays

PAPER DETAILS

Added: 8/8/2006 07:16:08 PM
Category: English
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 1330
Pages: 5

Save |

Report

SHARE THIS PAPER

SAVED ESSAYS

Save and find your favorite essays easier