Plays an important part in the play.
·
Story revolves around two different attempts to
change the course of fate.
- Laius – Jocasta => attempts to kill
Oedipus
- Oedipus => flight from
Corinth later on.
- *in both the cases – Oracle’s prophecy
comes true –regardless of actions.
·
The manner in which they (Oedipus – Jocasta)
express their disbelief in oracles is ironic.
- Jocasta – “oracles are powerless” , the
very next scene she goes to pray to the same powers.
·
Trust in God – Trust in intelligence.
- Oedipus trying to root out the truth,
but irony,
- (oracles + Oedipus intelligence) = same
outcome.
- *Jocasta says - “if he would have just
left well enough alone, he would never have discovered the horrible workings of
fate”
- *His intelligence is what makes
him great, yet it is also what makes him tragic.
·
Sphinx Riddle – he himself is the answer.
·
BEST EXAMPLE – IRONY
The frequent use of references to eyes,
sight, light and perception throughout.
“sight” – 2 meanings – Oedipus blessed
with the gift of perception, but blind to the truth.
TEIRESIAS
- ·
Blind old man.
- ·
Foreshadows Oedipus’ own future.
- ·
The more Oedipus mocks his blindness, the more ironic he
sounds to the audience.
- ·
Understands the truth without the use of his sight.
- ·
At the end, Oedipus becomes like Teiresias, who is
blinded, but realizes the truth.
- A pre-presentation of the Oedipus at
the end.
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