This essay examines the way in which sight is used as a symbol in Oedipus Tyrannos. Among the recurring themes in the play, sight and blindness are made reference to, many times and this unveils one of the premise the author of the play is trying to pass across. It is however important to know that symbol, in a literary material, is a theme that is used to represent an abstract idea or concept. Sight is one of the metaphorical symbols used in the play and it represents the ability to perceive or
Authors often use blindness and sight as a metaphor for knowledge and insight of the truth. For example, this was a major theme in Ralph Ellison’s novel, Invisible Man, signifying the inability of African Americans to notice their everlasting inequality. Such use of the sense of sight to symbolize knowledge dates back to ancient Greek theatre. Sophocles notably employs this metaphor in his Oedipus trilogy, specifically Oedipus Rex, also known as Oedipus The King. Sophocles uses sight as a metaphor
inability to see (blindness) in each and every person. People are naturally blind to the trillions of other psyches that compose their species. This accounts for an array of discrepancies in human interaction due to the incapability to be completely aware of another person’s thoughts. The subject of human blindness is a major theme of Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex”. People’s motivations are generated by their circumstances and they are sometimes put in a position where their blindness causes them to make
In the text Oedipus the King, Sophocles puts so much trust into his senses like hear, touch, smell, taste and sight to represent the three types of irony, but mainly sight. Considering the major motif in Oedipus the King was vision, sight, and blindness. Sophocles’ use of irony is purposely interpreted to show Oedipus’s hamartia because throughout Oedipus the King there are many examples of verbal, dramatic and situational irony, which lead to the downfall of Oedipus. Sophocles uses dramatic irony
that occur through flaws in morality. In Oedipus the King, blindness, death, and ignorance are key aspects in the tragedy. Literary devices such as motifs, impact the way readers assess the work and compare it to their ideas. Blindness is a motif that is consistently used all throughout the play. Oedipus is able to see but he is letting his stubbornness blind him from reality. Tiresias and many other characters in the play attempt to help Oedipus find the murderer of Laius, but he does
downfall. A great example of hubris is Oedipus from Sophocles’ Theban plays, specifically in Oedipus Rex. Oedipus brings about his own downfall, not only losing his position as king but ending up physically
However, as the play reveals, Oedipus, “Solver of riddles,/ Slayer of monsters,” (20), is the blindest one of all. One of his tragic flaws is his unyielding knowledge and insight, for his amazing abilities are what lead him to his tragic fate at the end of the day. One reason for Oedipus’s blindness is his superiority complex. He already thinks so highly of himself, and the unwavering support of everyone in his
Sophocles, tragic play, Oedipus Rex. In Oedipus Rex, I believe that hubris is the essential cause of Oedipus’ downfall. Throughout the whole play Oedipus had shown hubris or excessive personal pride, which eventually brought his downfall. Going all the way back to the beginning of the play, Oedipus refers to his people as “Oedipus: My children,” (act 1, prologue, line 1) which shows because he’s their king that he is also like a father figure to them. He’s basically displaying his power over the
Oedipus the King was written by Sophocles as part of the Theban Plays. It is believed that Sophocles wrote Oedipus the King around 430 B.C. Sophocles himself lived ninety years, from 496 to 406 B.C. Each play was written for separate festivals, years apart. Antigone was actually written first, Oedipus the King second, and Oedipus at Colonus last. The time period Sophocles wrote in was the same as the time period in Oedipus, so the details are relevant because they were present in that time. Oedipus
one point Oedipus mocks him for being blind as he accuses him for the filth lying in the city stating "your blind eyes cannot see / What plague infects our city" (Oedipus 310) but then he accuses him blind in everything at which he gets furious. This where he states it clearly saying "since you have not refrained / From mocking my blindness -- you who have eyes / Yet see not into what miser you have fallen" (425-429). Secondly, this symbol of "sight" has been used to show that though Oedipus is physical