Why does Oedipus summon Teiresias (278-287)? What is Teiresias's reaction to Oedipus's request for help (316-344)? How does Oedipus view Teiresias's behavior (345-349)? What does Teiresias reveal to Oedipus as a result of the king's angry accusation (353;362)? Note the emphasis on sight and blindness in the dialogue between Oedipus and Teiresias (e.g.,367; 371). What irony is implicit in this emphasis?
Oedipus summons Teiresias because he thinks Teiresias may have some insight to who the murderer is. Teiresias knows that Oedipus is the murderer and he does not want to tell Oedipus, even though Oedipus is asking for help. Teiresias tries to turn Oedipus away and tries not to reveal the truth, but Oedipus is ignorant and becomes angry. Oedipus views Teiresias's behavior as "unfriendly" and Oedipus does not appreciate it. Oedipus even goes so far as to accusing Tiresias on being "bent on betraying us, destroying Thebes." Because of Oedipus's accusations Tiresias reveals he is the curse by saying "You are the curse, the corruption of the land." Oedipus then gets even angrier and says Tiresius is making up a story. The whole dialogue is between a blind man and Oedipus, and the ironic part about it is that Oedipus is acutally being the blind one. Tiresias is physically blind, but Oedipus is mentally blind and is also acting very out of character. Oedipus seems to be acting like a power hungry king who does not listen to anyone and only cares about being king. Terisias is actually the calm one in the dialogue, and the whole dialogue just shows how blind Oedipus can be because of the power he has.
Examine the messenger’s speech narrating the death of Jocasta and the blinding of Oedipus in Oedipus the King
Earlier in the play when Oedipus wants to find out his origins and Jocasta tells him to spare her, Oedipus doesn't realize he is going to drive Jocasta to kill herself. When examined Jocasta essentially abandoned her husband who was killed by her son who then married her and had children with her. This has to be painful for Jocasta and she feels she cannot live anymore after finding out the truth and instead of suffering more in life, she kills herself. The messenger said she was "hanging by the neck." This is a speech being given to the people and is very detailed and not cushioned at all. The messenger is very blaitant and even tells the crowd that Oedipus blinds himself by forcing pins into his eyes. Actually, the blinding of Oedipus is kind of ironic. In a sense he has been blind the whole play, and now that he actually knows the truth, he becomes physically blind. The messenger also tells the story to fill in the gaps. It is very detailed and tells the audience that they were happy and had joy in the past, but now in "one day," "death, disgrace, and all the griefs in the world that you can name, are theirs forever." Oedipus now wants to suffer and feels he does not deserve to live in the city and wants to be exiled. He wants to be exiled to the place he was taken as a baby where he was suppose to die, but instead he lived and fulfilled the profecy.
(488 words without the first questions)
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2 comments:
Ryan, good job choosing questions that have something in common, allowing you to look into the symbolic role of blindness and its relationship to knowledge and truth in the play. Also, choosing that as your focus allows you to show how closely that image is connected to the overwhelming sense of irony that runs throughout the play. Nicely done.
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