Oedipus Rex Thought Paper

Oedipus Rex Thought Paper

Throughout history, the image of clear vision has often been used as a metaphor for knowledge and insight, so much so that it has even become a normal saying in society today. Countless times, I have heard people say, “I see how things are” or “I see the truth” when they believe that they know what is going on. However, in the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, the references to eyesight and insight take on a whole new meaning both literally and metaphorically. Oedipus’s parents, King Laius and Queen Jocasta receive a prophecy from the Oracle of Delphi who was a priestess of Apollo, who can see the future. Right from the beginning, the theme of vision became prevalent and made me as the reader wonder if a prophecy could ever be wrong. Although the King and Queen tried to kill their son before the prophecy came true by leaving him tied on top of a hill, their efforts were in vain, for as fate would have it, he was rescued by the very shepherd who was assigned to make sure he died. The shepherd brought him to a distant city where he was taken in by the King and Queen of that city, and eventually ended up killing his biological father while on the road. When he came to Thebes, he answered the riddle posed to him by the sphinx essentially winning the hearts of the city’s people and setting himself up to be king. He was viewed as smart and strong and was a perfect candidate to be the next king.

Oedipus was also famed for his clear-sightedness and quick understanding, however he was blind to the truth about his childhood for years , blind to who his birth parents, and blind to the fact that he killed his father with his own hands. Oedipus also blinds himself later after finding out that he slept with his mother, making him unable to see his own children. In a twist of fate, Oedipus’s blindness brings him new sight in that he finally gains limited prophetic vision. He is in effect, another Tiresias, the blind seer whom Oedipus brought to tell him...