0
One of the themes in Oedipus Rex is physical and metaphorical blindness. In Greek culture, those who were physically blind were said to have metaphorical "vision" and were messengers of the gods. For example, Tiresius is blind, but is also a prophet. In the beginning, Oedipus is also blind, not physically, but metaphorically for he does not know the truth. So it is only fitting that when he uncovers the truth of his origins, he physically blinds himself, for it is then that he is able to "see the truth" as Tiresius had prophesied.
Though the real reason that Oedipus blinds himself (not connected to the themes of the play) is because it was a belief in Greek culture that you would be the same way in the afterlife as you were when you died. For that reason, Oedipus blinds himself so he won't have to look upon his mother whom he bedded, his father whom he killed, and his monstrous children whom he gave birth to.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoIn Sophocles' play Oedipus Rex, Oedipus stabs his eyes with his dead wife Jocasta's golden brooch. After finding her body, he then lifts and uses the brooch from her clothing to blind himself.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThat he cannot bear to see the messes in his life or to look his parents in the eyes in the Underworld of the afterlife are the reasons why Oedipus blinds himself after knowing the truth in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Theban King Oedipus finds out that a dreadful prophecy comes true in all its miserable details despite his efforts to the contrary. He comes upon the dead body of Queen Jocasta, who is both his mother and wife. He cannot bear to see the consequences of being an albeit unknowing criminal and immoralist or to look in the eyes the father he kills or the mother he marries when they all meet again in death.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoit was nasty how he killed his father and then married his own mother thats not right for one she has to be at least 10 to 14 years older than you cause she had to take care of you as a child so my mistake she had to been at lease 20 years and older than you so why would you want to marry your mother unless she was irresistible buddy that's straight sicking. anyways he explains that he blinded himself because he didn't want to face his parents in the after life that's why they were going to kill him but changed their minds. why? i don't know. uh mm Oedipus explains blinding himself as the act of barvery and cowardice because he didn't something terrible and he was afraid to look his parents in the eyes again and then bravery because it was better than committing suicide. I HOPE HE DIDNT HAVE ANY KIDS WITH HIS MOTHER THATS WOULD EVEN BE MORE GROSE.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIn the palace's royal bedroom is where Theban King Oedipus blinds himself. He finds the dead body of Theban Queen Jocasta, who is his wife and his mother. He takes the brooches from her dress. So they're what he last sees in the world.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoHe found out that the prophecy made at his birth had come true- he killed his father and married his mother, all without knowing he was related to them.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoHe wen to the doctor
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What does Oedipus do with Jocasta's broach?
he uses it to scrath out his eye- blind himself
Why is Oedipus blinding himself dramatically appropriate?
Because Oedipus was figuratively blind in his complete ignorance of the truth about the death of Laius. In blinding himself, he becomes literally blind to parallel that. I think this is an example of Homeric justice.
How does sophocles cause his audience to feel pity and fear in Oedipus Rex?
Because Oedipus blind himself, and exile which makes the audience feel pity to Oedipus.
Did Oedipus commit suicide?
No does not suicide he blind himself .. Jocasta who commit suicide by his own hands
What does Oedipus do when Jocasta dies in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Remove her body from the noose, place her on the floor, remove the gold brooches from her robes, and blind himself are what Oedipus does when Jocasta die in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta hangs herself with threads from her own robes. Oedipus removes the body from the noose and places it on the floor. He then removes the gold brooches that help hold her robes together and uses them to blind himself.
What does Oedipus do with Jocasta's broach?
he uses it to scrath out his eye- blind himself
Why is Oedipus blinding himself dramatically appropriate?
Because Oedipus was figuratively blind in his complete ignorance of the truth about the death of Laius. In blinding himself, he becomes literally blind to parallel that. I think this is an example of Homeric justice.
What does Oedipus blind himself with?
The brooches that were on his wife/mother's clothes when he found her dead.
How does sophocles cause his audience to feel pity and fear in Oedipus Rex?
Because Oedipus blind himself, and exile which makes the audience feel pity to Oedipus.
Did Oedipus commit suicide?
No does not suicide he blind himself .. Jocasta who commit suicide by his own hands
What does Oedipus do when Jocasta dies in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Remove her body from the noose, place her on the floor, remove the gold brooches from her robes, and blind himself are what Oedipus does when Jocasta die in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta hangs herself with threads from her own robes. Oedipus removes the body from the noose and places it on the floor. He then removes the gold brooches that help hold her robes together and uses them to blind himself.
What is the name of the blind prophet in sophocles' Oedipus?
The name of the blind prophet in sophocles' oedipus rex is teiresias.
Does Oedipus kill himself at the end of 'Oedipus Rex'?
No, Oedipus does not kill himself at the end of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus does not express an interest in killing himself at the play's end. Instead, he indicates that he wants to live in exile instead of being executed. He makes no attempt to escape or change his fated punishment other than to blind himself and then try to influence Creon, his brother-in-law and royal predecessor.
How is Oedipus different at the beginning of Oedipus Rex than at the end?
There are many was that Oedipus is The most obvious being - he is now blind (having blinded himself) and he is aware that the oracle has come true. That he did in fact Kill his father and marry his mother.
Who is the murderer Oedipus seeks in 'Oedipus Rex'?
He himself is the murderer sought by Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus seeks to identify and punish the guilty in the murder of his royal predecessor, King Laius. The chorus speaks of a group of travellers as the rumored perpetrators at the time of the long-ago crime. But Teiresias the blind prophet tells Oedipus that he himself is the killer.
What is the status of Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex' and 'Oedipus at Colonus'?
From respected royal to blind prisoner and then from blind exile to lucky spirit is the Oedipus' respective status in "Oedipus Rex" and "Oedipus at Colonus" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus begins with the status of king. But by the end of the play, he loses it all to become a blind prisoner under house arrest in Thebes. Between the two plays, the gods punish Oedipus with exile. At the beginning of "Oedipus at Colonus" he moves as a blind exile to the area of Athens. But his status rises when he disappears as a luck bearing spirit.
What do Jocasta and Oedipus do when they discover that Teiresias and the oracle told the truth in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Hang herself and blind himself are what Jocasta and Oedipus do when they discover that Teiresias and the oracle told the truth in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Teiresias the blind prophet announces that Theban King Oedipus is King Laius' killer. This is in line with the Delphic oracle's prediction that Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother. The Corinthian messenger and the Theban shepherd verify the facts in the prophecy's realization.
