American Literature

Oedipus Rex is a great tragedy. Perhaps the reason why its popularity withstood the test of time is because there are so many factors working in its favor. The technological aspects of the play is one, with the manuscript being short enough to read in one sitting and some lines such as You pray to the godsLet me grant your prayers. The whole set-up of the play is easy enough to set in mind. Additionally, there is the text itself. The story of Oedipus can easily ingratiate itself to many mortal mens minds. He is a walking misfortune, and men do so seem to relate with bad luck.

One cannot accuse Oedipus of being stupid he solved the riddle of the sphinx, after all. Yet, one of the main aspects of the play is the reference to sight. Oedipus continued to act like the blind man, refusing to follow-up on clues that has been left here and there for his realization of the truth. Tireseas, the real blind man saw much more than Oedipus has. The stubbornness of Oedipus to see what is laid down before him caused much suffering to his people, which was his duty to protect being the King. Any man with more common sense would have figured it all out because the play certainly did not lack for clues.

By the end of the play Oedipus will cast out his eyes. Is this fit punishment for his refusal to see the clues Does taking his own eyes make all the sufferings of the people go away Was there any logical point to it except a heros quest for self-vindication.