AP & PACC Literature & Composition

Blindness Sight

• P4: “…I never saw the man” – Oedipus speaking of Laius


• P14: Oedipus to Tiresias “…blind as you are in eyes and ears and mind…”; Tiresias to Oedipus: you are saying that I am blind, but you are the one who will be blind (figuratively & literally)


• P15: Tiresias “You have your sight and do not see what evils are about you, nor in what home you are dwelling.  Do you know from whom you are?”


• P11: Oedipus to Tiresias, “…thou cannot see the city but know what pestilence visits it.” It is a terror to know


• P46: Oedipus blinds himself – he learns the truth, but does not want to face it, so he is still blind to his fate. Blinds himself so he will not have to face the truth about himself.


• P13: Tiresias, “My offense you censure, but your own at home you see not and yet blame me.”


• P6: “So shall you see me as of right, with you, avenging this country and the God together.”


• P20: Senator, “I do not know.  I have no eyes for what my masters do, but here he comes…”


• P25: Senator, “A blind surmise arose, out of mere babble; but even what is unjust inflicts a sting.”


• P12: Tiresias, “…because I do not see thy words, not even thine, going to the mark”


• P27: Oedipus, “I am sore afraid the prophet was not blind, but you will make more certain…”


• P47: Oedipus, “…blind as I am, with kindness, oh my friend”

• General: Oedipus is one man in multiple roles that should be filled by different people (husband-son; father-brother; brother-in-law-nephew)


• P30: Servant says Laius was attached by a band of thieves; it was actually only Oedipus: “One cannot be the same as many…”


• P11: “He was said to have been killed by footpads” (note possible play on Oedipus’ name)


• P14: “Creon, the trusted friend / who has suborn a sorcerer like this”


• P7: Chorus is saying the plague is caused by the entire population of Thebes, but it is actually caused by Oedipus (scapegoat)


• P3: “For in your case his own particular pain comes to each singly; but my heart at once groans for the city, and for myself, and you.”


• P16: Tiresias, “And to your fathers who begat you”… “this day shall give you birth and death in one.”


• Tiresias, the murderer is both a native and a stranger, able to see yet blind, taking place of multiple relationships


• P23: “City! My City!” – “The city is mine too, not yours alone…”


• P36: “What, did not Polybus beget me?” … “How my own sire no more than nobody?”


• P42: Oedipus acknowledges the multiplicity of his relationships


• P38: Oedipus calls himself a child of fortune – multiple mothers

posted by Jeffrey @ Tuesday, February 07, 2006