Blindness vs Sight (Darkness vs Light)
This is a small summary + analysis of the theme, Blindness vs Sight, in Oedipus Rex. This
is a major theme in A level Classical Civilisation, so I recommend that you put some
attention to remembering quotes/ remembering key moments involved in the theme of
Blindness and Sight.
“Riddles- all you can say are riddles, murk and darkness.” Oedipus is becoming increasingly
frustrated with the riddles, but ironic as he is also becoming frustrated by his own ignorance,
something he has no knowledge of knowing.
“Blind who now has eyes” Tiresias uses oxymorons when describing blindness versus sight to
portray how Oedipus himself is a victim of his ignorance and lack of knowledge, whereas he, the
blind, is more understanding of the situation.
“The horror too dark to tell.” The chorus are still unknowing of the situation, separating them from
the enlightened Athenian audience who did know the truth.
“Zeus and Apollo know, they know, the great masters of all the dark and depth of human life.” The
chorus states that only Zeus and Apollo are truly understanding of the secret’s humans can hold.
This creates pathos for Oedipus as it does make him seem like he is cursed by the gods to suffer.
“Your treachery- you think I’d never detect it creeping against me in the dark?” Oedipus believes
that he has the knowledge and hindsight, however, he doesn’t even have the knowledge or
understanding to realise his own truth. This presents him to be deeply flawed due to being so
ignorant to the truth. Ironic since Oedipus believes that Creon was the person who had been
plotting against him and hoping for Oedipus to have a downfall, which is not the case since
Oedipus had ultimately been the person who catalysed his downfall.
“Time alone can bring the just man to light-“Creon states that the truth will ultimately be revealed to
the world, which mimics the teachings that Tiresias had explored.
“Whatever the god needs and seeks he’ll bring to light himself, with ease.” Jocasta states that the
gods would reveal the truth, however that was the furthest from the truth, as instead of the gods
being the main factor as to why the gods had to reveal the truth, it was actually because of
Oedipus. Oedipus catalysed the truth being revealed.
“I have a terrible fear the blind seer can see.”
“Now I’ve reached this pitch of dark foreboding” Oedipus understands that he is in a dangerous
position where he cannot return to his ignorant self after knowing the truth. However, what he
doesn’t understand is that he has not yet reached his full anagnorisis as he still hasn’t realised that
he has married his mother.
“Nowhere Apollo’s golden glory now-” Ironic since the truth had only just started getting revealed,
which might show that Apollo’s golden glory is being revealed.
“But still, to see one’s parents and look into their eyes” Oedipus feels this sense of urgency to
reconnect with his parents, which is ironic as the truth of Jocasta being his mother had been such
an defilement, and had caused him to ultimately blind himself by stabbing his eyes with Jocasta’s
brooches.
“I’ll never see myself disgraced.” Irony as he literally doesn’t see himself disgraced, because he
blinds himself, but Oedipus is a curse and abomination to his people.
“All come true, all burst to light!” Catharsis.
“Now you bring down night upon my eyes” The chorus is so shocked by the truth that the truth
seemingly changes reality and their perception so much that it had caused everything that they
This is a small summary + analysis of the theme, Blindness vs Sight, in Oedipus Rex. This
is a major theme in A level Classical Civilisation, so I recommend that you put some
attention to remembering quotes/ remembering key moments involved in the theme of
Blindness and Sight.
“Riddles- all you can say are riddles, murk and darkness.” Oedipus is becoming increasingly
frustrated with the riddles, but ironic as he is also becoming frustrated by his own ignorance,
something he has no knowledge of knowing.
“Blind who now has eyes” Tiresias uses oxymorons when describing blindness versus sight to
portray how Oedipus himself is a victim of his ignorance and lack of knowledge, whereas he, the
blind, is more understanding of the situation.
“The horror too dark to tell.” The chorus are still unknowing of the situation, separating them from
the enlightened Athenian audience who did know the truth.
“Zeus and Apollo know, they know, the great masters of all the dark and depth of human life.” The
chorus states that only Zeus and Apollo are truly understanding of the secret’s humans can hold.
This creates pathos for Oedipus as it does make him seem like he is cursed by the gods to suffer.
“Your treachery- you think I’d never detect it creeping against me in the dark?” Oedipus believes
that he has the knowledge and hindsight, however, he doesn’t even have the knowledge or
understanding to realise his own truth. This presents him to be deeply flawed due to being so
ignorant to the truth. Ironic since Oedipus believes that Creon was the person who had been
plotting against him and hoping for Oedipus to have a downfall, which is not the case since
Oedipus had ultimately been the person who catalysed his downfall.
“Time alone can bring the just man to light-“Creon states that the truth will ultimately be revealed to
the world, which mimics the teachings that Tiresias had explored.
“Whatever the god needs and seeks he’ll bring to light himself, with ease.” Jocasta states that the
gods would reveal the truth, however that was the furthest from the truth, as instead of the gods
being the main factor as to why the gods had to reveal the truth, it was actually because of
Oedipus. Oedipus catalysed the truth being revealed.
“I have a terrible fear the blind seer can see.”
“Now I’ve reached this pitch of dark foreboding” Oedipus understands that he is in a dangerous
position where he cannot return to his ignorant self after knowing the truth. However, what he
doesn’t understand is that he has not yet reached his full anagnorisis as he still hasn’t realised that
he has married his mother.
“Nowhere Apollo’s golden glory now-” Ironic since the truth had only just started getting revealed,
which might show that Apollo’s golden glory is being revealed.
“But still, to see one’s parents and look into their eyes” Oedipus feels this sense of urgency to
reconnect with his parents, which is ironic as the truth of Jocasta being his mother had been such
an defilement, and had caused him to ultimately blind himself by stabbing his eyes with Jocasta’s
brooches.
“I’ll never see myself disgraced.” Irony as he literally doesn’t see himself disgraced, because he
blinds himself, but Oedipus is a curse and abomination to his people.
“All come true, all burst to light!” Catharsis.
“Now you bring down night upon my eyes” The chorus is so shocked by the truth that the truth
seemingly changes reality and their perception so much that it had caused everything that they
