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Symbols In Sophocles 'Oedipus The King'

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In Oedipus Rex written by Sophocles, the people of Thebes are begging their new king Oedipus to help end the plague. The only way to end the plague is to find their previous ruler’s killer. Throughout the play, Oedipus takes on the task to try and find him. Oedipus asks Teiresias, a blind prophet, for help as to who the killer is and is told about his prophecy that states he will kill his father. This leads to Oedipus finding out he was given away as a child to be killed to end the prophet. When the man he once thought was his father dies, the truth is revealed that the previous ruler of Thebes, King Laius was Oedipus’s real father which means his prophet has become true. The various symbols throughout Oedipus Rex help to illustrate the theme that true fate is inevitable. …show more content…

Sight represents the ability to understand how Oedipus has caused chaos in Thebes while blindness symbolizes the ignorance Oedipus has towards his actions as he is the killer. In the play Oedipus is speaking to his best friend Creon and states “Then once more I must bring what is dark to light” (Prologue.135). In reference to finding out who has killed King Laius and has caused turmoil in Thebes but it is his fault he just does not know yet. Oedipus then seeks the help of Teiresias, while speaking to one another Teiresias states, “You mock my blindness do you? but I say that you with both your eyes, are blind; you cannot see the wretchedness of your life” (1.398-400). Oedipus is being scolded by Teiresias as he is blind to his fate which is ironic as Teiresias himself is physically

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