Symbols of Blindness and Sight in Oepidus the King - Essay Example

The tragedy “Oedipus the King” has in itself many references to eyes, sight, and blindness. In the center of the story, there is a man, who identifies the theme of the tragedy which is considered to be the theme of moral self-identity. It seems that in this drama the most important ideas regarding the nature and destiny of a man are expressed. The tragedy consists of a big variety of symbols and the specific symbols of blindness and sight are connected with the themes of knowledge and ignorance in it. And it is done so capaciously, simply, and convincingly that it is available for the understanding even of an inexperienced reader. For example, the next lines show us that sight is used in an ignorance way, while blindness can open much more:

“…So I say this to you,

  since you have chosen to insult my blindness—

  you have your eyesight, and you do not see

  how miserable you are, or where you live” (Sophocles, Oedipus the King),

or another example that presents blindness as a symbol of knowledge:

“He will be blind, although he now can see.                             

  He will be poor, although he now is rich.

  He will set off for a foreign country,

  groping the ground before him with a stick” (Sophocles, Oedipus the King).

The play sharply illustrates Oedipus’ quest for knowledge and Sophocles reveals to his readers the question of the universal scale: who determines the fate of a man - the gods, or he? Observing the way how the solution to the riddle presents Oedipus’ knowledge and ignorance it is possible to mention that in search of an answer to the eternal question mentioned above the main hero of the tragedy Oedipus left his native city, practically dooming himself to a certain death. We can see that God foretold him not only to kill his father but also to marry his mother. Analyzing existed situation the main hero found the right decision (as it seemed to him): to leave the family home. But, to great regret, Oedipus had not understood the most important thing: the gods determine only the general aspect of man's destiny, its direction, one of the possible hypothetical versions of the future reality. Everything else depends only on the person, on his personality, on what is concealed in him. Thus, Sophocles presents the use of knowledge and the true understanding of its meaning using sight as its symbol by showing that a person being sighted or blind can determine their own fate by their own hands without the help of any companion:

     “Was there no messenger—

      no companion who made the journey with him

      and witnessed what took place—a person

      who might provide some knowledge men could use?” (Sophocles, Oedipus the King).

Thus, the gods of Olympus have indicated to Oedipus by their prophecy that he was able not only to kill his father, but also to marry his mother, and that is why he had to be constantly on guard, not allowing to escape those truly terrible abilities, which were concluded in him. But he took everything literally and had not seen the truth that the gods tried to open to him. And only at the last moment, the moment of spiritual enlightenment, he realizes how blind he was then, and as a sign of this, he pokes out his eyes. Thus he expresses the main idea of the tragedy: gods do not decide a person's fate, but the person does it himself. A person makes himself by his thoughts and by his actions. Fate, inevitability is nothing compared to a man, understanding and awarding of his moral and spiritual essence. And at the end of the tragedy, the chorus sings the lines that approve of this statement:

“Look ye, countrymen and Thebans, this is Oedipus the Great, He who knew the Sphinx's riddle and was mightiest in our state. Who of all our townsmen gazed not on his fame with envious eyes? Now, in what a sea of troubles sunk and overwhelmed he lies! Therefore wait to see life's ending ere thou count one mortal blest;

Wait till free from pain and sorrow he has gained his final rest.” (Sophocles, Oedipus the King).

To conclude it is possible to note that not fate but the actions and flaws in character are most of all responsible for the tragedy of Oedipus, and Sophocles proved this using the symbols of blindness and sight in his tragedy.