What was the Prophecy of Teiresias about Oedipus?
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Answer
What was the prophecy of Teiresias about Oedipus?
Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex” (first performed in c. 429 BC) portrays the tragedy of King Oedipus. In the play, King Oedipus asks Teiresias, a blind prophet, to reveal the truth about Laius’ murderer. Then Teiresias gives a shocking prophecy about King Oedipus.
Oedipus is the Curse: At first, Teiresias refuses to speak because he knows the prophecy/truth will destroy Oedipus. But when Oedipus angrily accuses him of lying and plotting with Creon to take the throne, Teiresias finally reveals the prophecy. His first prophecy is that Oedipus himself is the murderer of King Laius. Oedipus is the curse (cause of the plague) in Thebes. He reveals:
You are the curse, the corruption of the land!
Then, Teiresias reveals an even more shocking truth. He discloses that Oedipus is a son and a husband to his mother, as well as a father and a brother to his children. This means that Oedipus had unknowingly killed his father, Laius, and married his own mother, Jocasta.
Through investigations, Oedipus discovers that the man he killed at the crossroads was Laius. He then married Laius’ widow, Jocasta—not knowing she was his real mother. Teiresias’ prophecy becomes true.
Blind, Beggar, and Exile: Teiresias made another prophecy—the killer of Laius would leave Thebes in rags (as a beggar), blind, and exiled. He says:
Blind who now has eyes, beggar who now is rich.
Teiresias’ prophecy becomes true. In the end, Oedipus finds out that he unknowingly killed his father and married his mother. He blinds himself and leaves Thebes as a beggar.
To wrap up, Teiresias’ prophecy shows that no one can escape the gods’ plans. Teiresias, though blind, “sees” the truth, while Oedipus—who has eyesight—is “blind” to his own guilt until it is too late.