Analysis of Phoenician Women
In Euripides' play Phoenician Women, Tiresias is already an old man who has seen and told his fair share of oracles. The answer he brings to Creon is not what the man wants to hear. [1] Creon turns his displeasure on Tiresias, who simply tells him that Creon must accept that it is his son's fate to die to save Thebes and that his denial of this unwelcome prophecy does not change the truth. [2] This shows a few things about the seer. It shows that he is wise in his age and profession about what he sees and the inevitability of fate.
It also shows that it is not uncommon for people to turn their anger on him when he delivers unhappy news, a point which he himself mentions later in the play. He says "Anyone who practices divination is a fool. If he happens to give unwelcome prophecies, the recipients regard him as an enemy. But if he pities those who consult him and tells them lies, he wrongs the gods". [3] This reflects the hard life that Tiresias has had to learn to lead, every negative prophecy putting him between the metaphorical rock and a hard place.
Even through his jadedness, Tiresias is a good man who wants to help people, as is demonstrated in the few pages of Phoenician Women in which he appears. When he arrives, he is weary from travel, apparently going from Athens to Thebes in a day's time in order to answer Creon's summons. [4] A rift formed between himself and and Oedipus' sons when he tried to save the house from falling farther into ruin. [5] He tries to leave without giving Creon the answer he is looking for in order to spare him the choice between his city and his son. [6] When Creon stops him he asks that Creon's son leave them so he does not hear the prophecy that demands his death. [7] Throughout his appearance in this scene it is reiterated again and again how he works to help others and to spare them as much as he can.
His efforts to spare people suffering are undermined, however, by his concern for the good of the many over the good of the few, or of the one. After delivering the oracle, Creon asks Tiresias not to tell anyone about it. [8] Tiresias, who feels an obligation to help the entire city over Creon and his son, refuses to keep his silence. [9] He will not kill the boy himself but he will see to it that those who will sacrifice him know what must be done. He seems regretful that the boy must die, but he is even more adamant that telling the city how to save itself is the right thing to do. If he must go to the citizens of Thebes to carry this out because Creon and Menoeceus will not, then he will cause them more suffering and do exactly that. Tiresias is spared having to do this as Menoeceus does sacrifice himself, but his willingness speaks volumes of his character. Tiresias is shown as a good man who uses his wisdom to make right decisions throughout his difficult life.
It also shows that it is not uncommon for people to turn their anger on him when he delivers unhappy news, a point which he himself mentions later in the play. He says "Anyone who practices divination is a fool. If he happens to give unwelcome prophecies, the recipients regard him as an enemy. But if he pities those who consult him and tells them lies, he wrongs the gods". [3] This reflects the hard life that Tiresias has had to learn to lead, every negative prophecy putting him between the metaphorical rock and a hard place.
Even through his jadedness, Tiresias is a good man who wants to help people, as is demonstrated in the few pages of Phoenician Women in which he appears. When he arrives, he is weary from travel, apparently going from Athens to Thebes in a day's time in order to answer Creon's summons. [4] A rift formed between himself and and Oedipus' sons when he tried to save the house from falling farther into ruin. [5] He tries to leave without giving Creon the answer he is looking for in order to spare him the choice between his city and his son. [6] When Creon stops him he asks that Creon's son leave them so he does not hear the prophecy that demands his death. [7] Throughout his appearance in this scene it is reiterated again and again how he works to help others and to spare them as much as he can.
His efforts to spare people suffering are undermined, however, by his concern for the good of the many over the good of the few, or of the one. After delivering the oracle, Creon asks Tiresias not to tell anyone about it. [8] Tiresias, who feels an obligation to help the entire city over Creon and his son, refuses to keep his silence. [9] He will not kill the boy himself but he will see to it that those who will sacrifice him know what must be done. He seems regretful that the boy must die, but he is even more adamant that telling the city how to save itself is the right thing to do. If he must go to the citizens of Thebes to carry this out because Creon and Menoeceus will not, then he will cause them more suffering and do exactly that. Tiresias is spared having to do this as Menoeceus does sacrifice himself, but his willingness speaks volumes of his character. Tiresias is shown as a good man who uses his wisdom to make right decisions throughout his difficult life.
[1] Euripides. "Phoenician Women." Euripides. Trans. David Kovacs. Vol. 5. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2002. 311
[2] Ibid. 313
[3] Ibid. 315
[4] Ibid. 305
[5] Ibid. 307
[6] Ibid.307
[7] Ibid. 311
[8] Ibid. 313
[9] Ibid. 313
[2] Ibid. 313
[3] Ibid. 315
[4] Ibid. 305
[5] Ibid. 307
[6] Ibid.307
[7] Ibid. 311
[8] Ibid. 313
[9] Ibid. 313