Greek Tragedy (Journal 4 Repeated Images)

Through out the tragedy of Oedipus the King there is a reoccurring idea of sight and truth. The city is in ruins at the beginning of the play. "Our city- look around you, see with your own eyes- [...]" (160). The priest from Zeus tells Oedipus about how the city of Thebes lay in waste. Sophocles uses the words "see" and "eyes" to relay the desperation of the society to the ruler, Oedipus. The priest directly talking to Oedipus and his own eyes show how Oedipus is directly connected to the city and its problems. This adds to the theme that not all insight and truth is good. In the next quote Tiresias speaks about the truth he sees. "How terrible-to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees!" (176) Tiresias adds to the idea that truth can be negative and painful. Tiresias as a blind prophet contributes to the idea that having no sight may be helpful and less painful. Through out the play the concept of sight and truth is held in bad light. In the last quote Oedipus gouges his eyes out. "[...] looking straight up into the points, he digs them down the sockets of his eyes, crying [...]" (237) In the ending scenes of the tragedy Oedipus takes away his ability to see. Oedipus takes away his sight to show dramatically the truth affected his life. By taking away his own sight he reveals a theme, seeing the truth may not always be a good solution.