Analysis of Oedipus the King
In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Tiresias is sought out for his wisdom and prophetic abilities, but he is incredibly reluctant to reveal what he knows. It is only due to Oedipus’ constant pleading, and accusations of betraying Thebes, that he tells them what he knows. In this text Sophocles creates a paradox surrounding Tiresias wherein the very skill that makes him so desirable is also makes other reject him. Furthermore, the rejection of Tiresias’ prophecy can be used to display the ignorance of other men, even the King, Oedipus. In this text, Tiresias is a vessel for wisdom, allowing Sophocles to manipulate it to highlight this attribute or lack of in other characters.
When Tiresias first enters he does so at the bidding of Oedipus. Oedipus had been told by Creon, that the plague that Thebes was under would be lifted if they found the murderer of the previous king, which unbeknownst to Oedipus is him. Since Oedipus did not know this information, he begs Tiresias to reveal the truth. Here Sophocles allows the reader first-hand knowledge of Tiresias’ wisdom, for the prophet rejects the King’s offer saying “what misery to be wise.” [1] Tiresias eventually reveals the truth, that Oedipus not only murdered the king, but “set [himself] and his children on one line” by marrying his mother.[2] Oedipus’s rage after Tiresias reveals the truth adds legitimacy to Tiresias’ wisdom, and prophetic abilities, for he had previously established that Oedipus would not want o hear this. Furthermore, by rejecting the very wisdom he sought out, Oedipus is made to look like a “poor fool.” [3]
The idea of Oedipus’ deliberate ignorance is furthered later when all of the characters begin to realize what Tiresias said is true. While Tiresias is a prophet, he can also be depicted as wise, unlike the other characters, for he has the mental capacity to hold the knowledge of Oedipus’ twisted story. Once Jocasta finally gains the knowledge that Tiresias is trying to instill, she kills herself, and when Oedipus finally understands this, at the end of the text, he gauges his eyes out and exiles himself. The polarity between Tiresias and Oedipus can be most accurately seen at the end of the play, for Sophocles’ has made Oedipus into a crude version of the prophet. Oedipus is now blind too, yet his disability is derived from his own hand, and is a consequence of the atrocities he has seen, unlike the beauty Tiresias saw. Even more significantly, Tiresias is wise where Oedipus is not. Tiresias knew before any other character that Oedipus “shall be proved the brother and sire” of his children, and he knew exactly what effect this knowledge would have. [4] Despite the large number of prophets and advisors available to him, Oedipus is merely a crude version of Tiresias. Sophocles establishes Tiresias as the epitome of wisdom here, to not only portray the burden caused by it, but to highlight what Oedipus lacks.
When Tiresias first enters he does so at the bidding of Oedipus. Oedipus had been told by Creon, that the plague that Thebes was under would be lifted if they found the murderer of the previous king, which unbeknownst to Oedipus is him. Since Oedipus did not know this information, he begs Tiresias to reveal the truth. Here Sophocles allows the reader first-hand knowledge of Tiresias’ wisdom, for the prophet rejects the King’s offer saying “what misery to be wise.” [1] Tiresias eventually reveals the truth, that Oedipus not only murdered the king, but “set [himself] and his children on one line” by marrying his mother.[2] Oedipus’s rage after Tiresias reveals the truth adds legitimacy to Tiresias’ wisdom, and prophetic abilities, for he had previously established that Oedipus would not want o hear this. Furthermore, by rejecting the very wisdom he sought out, Oedipus is made to look like a “poor fool.” [3]
The idea of Oedipus’ deliberate ignorance is furthered later when all of the characters begin to realize what Tiresias said is true. While Tiresias is a prophet, he can also be depicted as wise, unlike the other characters, for he has the mental capacity to hold the knowledge of Oedipus’ twisted story. Once Jocasta finally gains the knowledge that Tiresias is trying to instill, she kills herself, and when Oedipus finally understands this, at the end of the text, he gauges his eyes out and exiles himself. The polarity between Tiresias and Oedipus can be most accurately seen at the end of the play, for Sophocles’ has made Oedipus into a crude version of the prophet. Oedipus is now blind too, yet his disability is derived from his own hand, and is a consequence of the atrocities he has seen, unlike the beauty Tiresias saw. Even more significantly, Tiresias is wise where Oedipus is not. Tiresias knew before any other character that Oedipus “shall be proved the brother and sire” of his children, and he knew exactly what effect this knowledge would have. [4] Despite the large number of prophets and advisors available to him, Oedipus is merely a crude version of Tiresias. Sophocles establishes Tiresias as the epitome of wisdom here, to not only portray the burden caused by it, but to highlight what Oedipus lacks.
[1] Greene, David, and Sophocles. Oedipus the King. N.p.: U of Chicago, 2012. Print. 16
[2] Ibid., 22
[3] Ibid., 20
[4] Ibid., 24
[2] Ibid., 22
[3] Ibid., 20
[4] Ibid., 24