The Role of Teiresias in Sophocles Oedipus Rex Essay

The Role of Teiresias in SophoclesOedipus Rex (the King) Teiresias uses his psychic abilities to foreshadow the anguish and destruction that Oedipus will encounter after he learns the truths of his life. Teiresias is also responsible for further developing the theme of blindness by using his own physical blindness to reveal to Oedipus his mental blindness. Lastly, Teiresias is ultimately responsible for imposing dramatic irony because of his great knowledge of the truth of Oedipus. In the play, Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, the minor character of Teiresias is responsible for foreshadowing Oedipus’ fate, developing the theme of blindness, and also illustrating dramatic irony. In Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, the character of†¦show more content†¦The preceding quotation foreshadows the self- destruction that Oedipus will commit because of the blindness that he holds towards his past and his fate. Teiresias explains to Oedipus that even though he can physically see now, in the future he will be blinded because he has learned the truth of his life. Teiresias clearly utilizes foreshadowing to illustrate the downfalls that will occur in Oedipus’ fated life. Teiresias further develops the theme of blindness in Oedipus Rex. Teiresias is a blind man who can actually see the fated outcome of Oedipus’ life. Even though Oedipus has full use of his physical vision, he is completely blind of his past and his fate. Teiresias uses his own physical blindness to make Oedipus aware of his own mental blindness towards the truths of his life. Teiresias reveals to Oedipus that it is Oedipus’ physical sight that deters him from seeing the truths of his past. The proceeding passage illustrates the theme of blindness as revealed by Teiresias to Oedipus. Listen to me. You mock my blindness, do you? But I say that you, with both your eyes, are blind: You can not see the wretchedness of you life (Sophocles, 400-403). This quotation clearly depicts the development of the theme of blindness, as Teiresias is telling Oedipus that even though he can see physically he is blinded by his quest to know theShow MoreRelatedOedipus Rex : An Amazing Play Written By Sophocles870 Words   |  4 Pages Oedipus Rex Oedipus Rex is an amazing play written by Sophocles. Oedipus Rex is about a king who can visually see but in reality he is blind, which then leads to him becoming physically blind in the end of the play, because he no longer wants to see the hurt and pain he’s caused himself. The play says, â€Å"No more shall you look on the misery about me, the horrors of my own doing!† (Sophocles Exodos lines 46-47). 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