answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Because the truth will bring nothing but pain.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why does Tiresias refuse to tell Oedipus the truth at first?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

How does Oedipus react when Teiresias tells him the truth?

Oedipus doesn't believe Tiresias, even when Tiresias spells the truth out to him; he calls him a liar and claims that he is in league with Creon for the throne.


What caused Tiresias to change his mind and speak the truth do you think?

Tiresias changed his mind and spoke the truth when he was pressured by Oedipus and accused of hiding the truth. He realized that revealing the truth was necessary for Oedipus to understand his fate and accept it. Ultimately, Tiresias felt that the truth needed to be told to bring about resolution and closure.


What does Tiresias say will happen to Oedipus?

He will become blind and learn the truth of the prophecy.


What does Tiresias add to the play Oedipus the King?

The character Tiresias adds an element of symbolism, as he is blind, but is the only one who actually "sees' the truth.


What internal conflict prevents Tiresias from telling the truth at first?

Tiresias is initially reluctant to tell Oedipus the truth about his fate because he knows that revealing the prophecy will bring great suffering and destruction to Oedipus and his family. He struggles with the moral dilemma of deciding whether to tell the truth and fulfill his duty as a prophet, or withhold the information to prevent harm. Ultimately, Tiresias chooses to disclose the prophecy, leading to the tragic consequences that unfold in the story.


What does Oedipus' confrontation with Tiresias and Creon indicate about his character?

This confrontation shows that he is a very emotional, quick-to-action character. He refuses to speak to Creon privately, showing that he is very curious and public about it. In this way, Creon is a foil for him. Tiresias is also a foil, being very cryptic in speech and also recommending privacy. Tiresias is blind but can see the truth but Oedipus can see but doesn't see the truth (at first). Overall, Oedipus is prone to rash decisions and his emotions guide many of his actions before he truly considers the consequences.


What is the theme Of the novel king Oedipus?

the themes are:truth vs. ignorance - ignorance of the truth about king laius' murder and oedipus' birth parentsprophecies and fate - avoidance of fate by Oedipus and his parents before himsense of sight - for example, the blind prophet Tiresias cannot see the world, but he can see the truth


Why is it ironic that Teiresias is blind?

Tiresias is able to 'see' the truth better than anyone, which is intended to be ironic given that he is blind. The Oedipus plays were written by Sophocles.


What is Oedipus tragic flaw with evidence in Oedipus Rex?

Oedipus basically had what in the greek language was called hubris...its the tragic flaw of arrogance...throughout the play, it is evident that Oedipus thinks highly of himself (and this is brought up many times in conversation with Tiresias.) Another flaw Oedipus had was being overly determined to find out this truth of his identity, this inevitably causes his downfall


Why does Tiresias refuse to help Oedipus?

Knowledge of the shocking truth is what makes Teiresias the blind prophet refuse to help Theban King Oedipus. Teiresias is asked to identify the killer or killers of Theban King Laius.Oedipus promises to punish the culprit or culprits with death or exile. He clearly values his reputation, his life, his job, and his family. And yet he'll lose all of that if Teiresias helps Oedipus. The reason lies in Oedipus being the very person whom he himself seeks. Albeit unknowingly, Oedipus is the killer of Laius, his father and his king. With the revelation of that crime will come that of another. Oedipus is married to his own mother, Theban Queen Jocasta.The realization of the indecent truth behind the apparent royal marital bliss is something that Oedipus won't accept lightly. He has a quick temper, and speaks before he thinks. Teiresias knows his monarch very well, and therefore is reluctant to be the bearer of such news.


How does Jocasta delay Oedipus' search for the truth in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is by not telling what she knows that Jocasta delays Oedipus' search for the truth in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.). Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta figures out that her second husband, King Oedipus, is her son. She knows that he therefore is the killer of her first husband, King Laius. She makes an effort to dissuade Oedipus from continuing the investigation that ultimately will find him guilty of murder and incest.


How does Oedipus know the truth in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is from the Corinthian messenger and the Theban shepherd that Oedipus knows the truth in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, it is true that King Oedipus is not the biological son of Corinthian monarchs Polybus and Merope. It is true that Oedipus is the killer of Theban King Laius, not of some random stranger, during a street brawl over the right of way at a fateful crossroads. But Oedipus does not know the first truth until he interviews the Corinthian messenger and the Theban shepherd. He does not know the second until the Theban shepherd confirms that Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta are Oedipus' biological parents.