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Theme Of Ignorance In Oedipus

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In the tragedy Oedipus Rex written by Sophocles, King Oedipus was destined to a tragic fate. He was prophesied to kill his father, King Laius and marry his mother Jocasta. Throughout the story, many symbols reveal hidden meanings related to the ignorance Oedipus displays towards his fate. Sophocles uses Oedipus Rex to convey that ignorance cannot alter fate. The symbols of light versus dark and sight versus blindness help to reinforce this theme.
Throughout the story, Oedipus’s ignorance takes part in the symbols of light, his awareness of his placement in the prophecy, and dark, his lack of awareness when it comes to his past and how it is entwined with the prophecy. Jocasta and Oedipus turned a blind eye to the prophecy and committed acts of hubris in order to avoid their fate. In scene four, it was revealed by a messenger how Oedipus was the culprit, he was looking for all along. …show more content…

Oedipus did not accept what was being told to him. Teiresias spoke truthfully yet Oedipus became angry and spiteful, sending Teiresias away. Not a word that was told to Oedipus was considered my him, proving his blindness and lack of consideration towards the situation. Referring back to his self blinding, Oedipus at that time had succumbed to a horrifying act instead of accepting what was shared. The news came tumbling down and his actions were severe. He yells “No more shall you look on the misery about me, the horrors of my own doing! (Exodus. 1221-1222)”. The last thing Oedipus wanted to consider was him being the man in the prophecy, but in this moment it was confirmed. He is appalled that so many people knew for so long yet he was blindsided by his acts of hubris. He is horrified by the fact that he actually murdered his own father and wed his mother. Oedipus felt so outraged and disgusted he had no other choice but to perform self

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