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The statement "truth has made me strong" is partially false, because while the main character believed that his life was exactly as he made it, it was actually shaped by his fate. A chain of events had lead to the forming of Oedipus as a strong and wise man. Most of the actions performed by Oedipus across his life had contradicted with the Oracle's prophecy.
The circumstances that Oedipus found himself in when he murdered his real father, Laius, had come as a result of the lies that he had been told. If Polybus and Merope hadn't had lied to him, telling him that they were his real parents, Oedipus wouldn't have came across Laius.
Apollo instructs Creon that the only way for the plague to leave the citizens of Thebes alone would be for Laius's killer to be found. Without knowing of his own situation, Oedipus demands that the murderer should be caught immediately. As he learns that a blind man named Tiresias knows everything, Oedipus finds him and obliges him to tell the truth. Instead of making him strong, truth had weakened Oedipus and brought him death.
In the end it is revealed that the truth brought nothing but distress in the story of Oedipus. The truth made the queen commit suicide and it blinded and exiled the king.
The character...
In the story of Oedipus, Tiresias has the role of revealing the truth and telling another prophecy regarding to the life of Oedipus. Even if Oedipus believes that he is strong enough to get over any impediment that might stands in his way, he realizes that his fate is sealed after Tiresias predicts his future.
The fact that Tiresias is blind, and, in spite of that, he knows everything, might seem curious for one. However, his blindness did not mean that he could not be wise. Tiresias's blindness was nothing when compared with that of Oedipus's metaphorical blindness.
Oedipus did not see the wrong that he did during his life as he murdered his father and married his mother. Oedipus hated Tiresias and considered him to be a fraud, as he was certain that the prophet had been lying. After having become sure of the truth, Oedipus chose to become blind, as he could not bear to look at what he had created.
Works cited:
1. Sophocles. "Oedipus Rex."
2. Taplin Oliver, "Greek tragedy in action," Taylor & Francis, 1978
Oliver Taplin, "Greek tragedy in action," Taylor & Francis, 1978
Works cited:
1. Sophocles. "Oedipus Rex."
2. Taplin Oliver, "Greek tragedy in action," Taylor & Francis, 1978
Oliver Taplin, "Greek tragedy in action," Taylor & Francis, 1978
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