Fate In Oedipus Rex :: essays research papers

Through Sophocles use of foreshadowing in the play Oedipus Rex, certain truthsare revealed to the reader, such as the fact that a escape of respect for fate can eventuallybring on a persons downfall, by driving them to delusion. Oedipus is looked up to by allhis res publica at the opening of the play, only to be thwarted by his own lack ofintelligence-- and more by his lack of faith than even that. Oedipus, formerly the sanguine, exceptslightly overbearing ruler of the pack, is reduced to less than a sliver of a human being.When confronted by the prophet Teiresius, Oedipus feels near perplexed and evenexposed. And so he rejects any possibility of validity in Teiresius prognostication, and, indoing this, signs his own sentence. Because of Oedipus failure to respect the insight of agifted seer, he is doomed to a blind and bloody end.As I have said before, Oedipus was first revered by all his people. His earnestpatriotism for his adoptive land and people are well received by all i n his kingdom. Afterall, he is the most glorious Oedipus (p.13,ln.8). Oedipus perceives himself to be aflawless champion for those ring him. These blind expectations that the mostexalted Oedipus has for himself are the very things that lead him to put little credence inothers and nearly all his faith in himself. And once he decides he is stronger than prophecy,his mad, unseeing eyes are unable to pick up the warning signs lining his road to oblivion.At one point in the play, the blind, hermaphroditic Teiresius enters to bringOedipus head out of the clouds and back to earth where things are a mite different. Thisis one point of the play in which Oedipus is unbelievably dear to finally buying into thefact that some power higher than himself could be at work-- and yet his arrogance andpride hinder him from accepting the legitimacy of fate. Oedipus finds the approximation thatTeiresius could know more than he simply offensive. Teiresius, sensing Oedipus hostilitytoward him, warns the king that when Oedipus berates him that such taunts will... castthe selfsame taunts on you,(p.126,ln.73). One would assume that Oedipus, knowingTeiresius disposition as a most unfailing and precise prophet would take heed in hisfurther dealings with fate. However, in a style most befitting his character, he ignoresthese insights. Only when Teiresius mentions Oedipus parents does Oedipus listen. Hisinterest sparked, the king cautiously asks, What mortals gave me birth?(p.28,ln.437).Teiresius elaborates further by stating that the king shall At once be revealed as sidekick