Oedipus And Light And Darkness

1285 Words6 Pages
Aaron Pham Mr. Brown English IV 12/3/11 Curiosity Blinded the Cat In our youth, we are always thirsty for knowledge. Whether it be as simple as wondering what makes the sun become the moon, to wanting to learn where babies come from, we as humans have the desire to learn about everything from the tangible to the intangible. But this thirst for knowledge may be our undoing. When we walk in on Mommy and Daddy actually making the baby, we as young children probably wish we didn’t have eyes. Throughout the play, Oedipus, Sophocles uses symbolism of sight and blindness, and light and darkness, along with dramatic character irony to help paint a deeper image than the drama itself. The first reference that Sophocles makes to sight is when the priest tells Oedipus “Look around you, see with your own eyes... Thebes is dying.” (28-31) The irony is that Oedipus won’t be able to look at his city with his two eyes by the end of the play. The priest then goes on about the downfall of Thebes using very vivid imagery. When word comes from Creon about why the plague is happening, it is revealed that murder is the reason. A murder that Oedipus himself committed. Yet Oedipus asks, “Whose murder? Whose fate does Apollo bring to light?” (116-117) When the answer is Laius, ironically Oedipus remarks “I never saw the man myself.” (119) Apollo’s vague answer is the start of the drama that is the story of Oedipus the King. Oedipus then claims “I’ll bring it all to light myself!” (150) further adding to the irony of Oedipus’s heroism. Apollo, who is the lord of the light, fails to shine light on the horrible truth that is about to unfold. Sophocles leaves it up to Oedipus to slowly but surely figure out the dark and twisted truth. Oedipus beckons his people to come forward if they know anything about the murder, even promising soft punishment, yet nobody steps forward. The only

More about Oedipus And Light And Darkness

Open Document