Truth Versus Fate in Sophocles' "Oedipus the King."
Tragedy, according to Aristotle, is "when an essentially good or noble person, through some error or weakness, brings suffering upon himself; some self-understanding evolves. The hero is more noble in defeat, than before." Greek tragedy is the quintessential expression of ancient Greek culture. Through historical and literary documentation, it is evident that the importance of religious, familial, and community dynamics place as chief moral ideals of the time. In ancient Greece, cities were governed by a king, where community life was essentially self-reliant. By and large, Greek values emphasized a subservient relationship with the gods, allowing the deities to have full control over one's fate. Many of these ideals, as well as social concerns, are expressed in the story "Oedipus the King" by Sophocles, through Oedipus' relationship with his family, his kingdom, and the Gods. His character evolves throughout the story, and it is accurate to say Oedipus goes through the character change from a prideful and heroic king at the beginning of the play, to a tyrant in denial towards the middle, and finally to a fearful and condemned man, at the end. In essence, Oedipus was blind from the truth and throughout this tragedy, the
Because the light is so bright, he does not want to see it and "he rips off her brooches, the long gold pins/ holding her robes-and lifting them high,/looking straight up into the points,/ he digs them down the sockets of his eyes, crying 'you,/you'll see no more the pain I suffered, all the pain I caused!/Too long you looked on the ones you never should have seen, blind to the ones you longed to see, to know! Blind/ from this house on. Blindness was the common thread to this play which Sophocles created; yet it was through blindness where Oedipus finally found the truth. Oedipus could never fully know who he was until he could no longer physically see who he was, and Sophocles portrayal of the dynamic context of that idea is what allows "Oedipus the King" to prosper today as a renowned piece of Tragic Literature. Oedipus began as the omnipotent ruler, and even to his people, he ended as the omnipotent ruler. When all is said and done, is it correct then to claim, according to Aristotle, that Oedipus is now more noble in his defeat, than before? Given the simple irony that Oedipus found truth through his blindness is substance enough to deduce that Oedipus, even though he is the epitome of a fallen tragic hero, gained nobility through the fact that he ultimately accepted his own fate. Oedipus claims that he longs to know the truth; yet, Tiresias says, speaking of the problems that the city wants solved, "How terrible-to see the truth/ when the truth is only pain to him who sees!"(360) Though the truth is clearly laid out for Oedipus, he interprets it as an attack against his authority as a ruler, as well as an attack against his personal character. This is proved at the end of the play when the chorus says to the people of Thebes ". /He solved the famous riddle with his brilliance,/he rose to power, a man beyond all power. You've lost your power,/stone-blind, stone-deaf-senses, eyes blind as stone!" (423), further portray Oedipus' unyielding hubris. In the beginning of the play Oedipus shows great compassion for the well-being and health of his fellow citizens. Blind in the darkness-Blind!"(1403-1410) Ironic how Oedipus finally sees the truth now that he is physically blind; thus becoming like the blind prophet Tiresias who possesses great insight. Oedipus realizes that the murderer of Laius (his biological father), who ruled Thebes before him, is in Thebes and that he must be driven out in order for the plague to end.
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