Paper Topic:

Drama

Of Sight and Blindness

Sophocles 's Oedipus the King

Sophocles applied one dominant theme in his play Oedipus the King : that of sight and blindness . Parallel to the popular Greek way of thinking the theme was used as a metaphor for knowledge and insight (SparkNotes LLC , 2006 . It was also used to highlight one of Sophocles 's main point in writing the story : one need not have the physical ability to see things to perceive the truth and one need not be blind to be in the dark regarding what is true

p One of the well-received plays in Greek theater , Oedipus the King is not a story originally whipped up by Sophocles . It was , in fact , a story that the Greeks were already familiar with even before the conception of Sophocles 's play . But Oedipus the King outshone all other depictions of Oedipus 's folklore thanks to Sophocles 's mastery in storytelling . The play remains a favorite up to this day and has even become the basis for psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud 's theory of oedipal complex (SparkNotes LLC 2006

Oedipus the King narrates the story of Oedipus and how he unknowingly fulfills the prophecy that was made when he was but a newborn : he was predicted to de [his] mother 's bed / to bring forth to men a human family / that people could not bear to look upon / to murder the father who engendered [him] (Sophocles , 951-4 . Growing up in the knowledge that he is the son of Corinth 's King Polybus and wife Merope Oedipus sought to escape his fate , which was repeated to him when he went to search for the truth behind rumors that he is not his father 's real son . To prevent the fulfillment of his destiny , he ran away from home . Little did he know that the father and mother referred to in the prophecy were his birth parents Laius , Thebes 's king whom he killed while running away from Corinth , and Jocasta , whom he married when he successfully saved Thebes from then evil Sphinx that held the city captive in Laius 's death . Upon knowing about the unfortunate way his life has unfolded , Oedipus blinded himself with the golden brooches of Jocasta , who in turn committed suicide

When the play opens , we see Oedipus as viable leader admired by all Theban

So now , Oedipus , our king , most powerful / in all men 's eyes , we 're here as suppliants / all begging you to find some help for us / either by listening to a heavenly voice / or learning from some other human being / For , in my view , men of experience / provide advice which gives the best results / So now , you best of men , raise up our state / Act to consolidate your fame , for now / thanks to your eagerness in earlier days / the city celebrates you as its saviour (Sophocles , 46-56

Knowledge of this admiration has given Oedipus the ability to rule the city accordingly and has even granted him the ability to foretell what his...

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