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The Role Of Sight And Blindness In Oedipus The King

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Sight and blindness play a major role in the play Oedipus The King. Oedipus believes that he knows what is best; while, in reality he is blind to the truth. Once Oedipus is no longer blind to the truth he realizes that attempts to change his fate are futile.
The significance of being able to see both figuratively and literally is emphasized in the story of Oedipus. For example when Teiresias says, “ You have your eyes but see not where you are in sin” (I, 483), this quote expresses that they do not only mean physical blindness, but they refer to Oedipus’ ignorance as well. In Oedipus the King the characters use blindness as an insult; when Oedipus assumes Creon set him up he says, “this wily beggar who has only eyes for his own gains,

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