The Theme Of Light And Darkness In Oedipus - 1293 Words

My new question is, was Oedipus blind before he saw the truth or after? When finally accepting the truth the blind prophet mentioned, Oedipus blinds himself because the truth is darkness. When he had his sight, he was blinded by ignorance, and to see the truth was to see the horrors he had committed that caused himself to be blinded both before he saw the truth and after. I suppose in this way, Oedipus is blind throughout the entirety of the play. The theme of light and darkness is relevant beyond the characters. A major plague is the cause for Oedipus’s investigation into Lanius’s murder, and consumes the plot of the first half of the plague. How does the reality of the plague and the theme of light and darkness influence the actions of†¦show more content†¦Upon Oedipus’s return from the interaction with Teiresias, Oedipus accuses his brother-in-law Creon for setting up the meeting with the prophet to kill him, and steal his throne. With no proof of thi s besides his strong dislike for the prophet, he accuses Creon of treason and calls for his execution. Oedipus’s quick judgements are once again in question. Why does Oedipus feel so threatened by Creon, and how does Creon’s responses demonstrate the truth of each character? I have chosen the input of Rebecca Curtis with her book Self-Defeating Behaviors, to further understand the characters.14 With psychological research and evaluation, I want to understand why Oedipus gives such misguided responses to a family member and friend. In relation to Oedipus’s initial accusation, Curtis offers that, â€Å"All too often, incorrect beliefs about other people (social impressions) also lead to self-defeating behaviors.†15 I understand this to mean that as soon as Oedipus displays this misunderstanding of Creon’s character, he was doomed to fail. What is most troubling to me about the conversation between Oedipus and Creon, is Creon’s quote, â€Å"Re ason it out, as I have done,† and proceeds to logically give explanations of his intentions and is willing to forgive Oedipus.16 How can Oedipus respond with the want of Creon’s death? Is this response the most explicit form of inability to sensible evaluate the truth? Oedipus, as previously evaluated, holds the loftyShow MoreRelatedFree Oedipus Essays : Forms Of Light And Darkness1600 Words   |  7 Pages FORMS OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS IN OEDIPUS REX As a key theme in Greek literature, it has been mentioned that truly the only ones who can see are blind. Specifically in the play â€Å"Oedipus Rex†, Sophocles has focused on nurturing the idea that there is no requirement of eyes for having a real sight, as there requires an ability for seeing beyond the dimension of elements. 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