What Reason Does Oedipus Give for His Self-Blinding?
Oedipus Rex is a notable literary work by Sophocles. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Oedipus Rex.
Answer
What reason/ logic does Oedipus give for his self-blinding?
“Oedipus Rex” (429 BC) by Sophocles (496-406 B.C.) is a well-known tragedy. In this tragedy, Oedipus blinds himself when he realizes that he has killed his father and married his mother. He believes his self-blinding is a form of punishment for his crimes and a way to atone for his sins.
The Reason Oedipus Blinds Himself: Here are some reasons for Oedipus’ Blindness, which are given below:
Tragedy of Oedipus: Oedipus, the protagonist, fits the classical definition of a tragic hero. He is noble and virtuous, but his fate is tragic due to a tragic flaw. Oedipus’s tragic flaw is his ignorance of his true identity. He unknowingly fulfils the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother. He expresses sadness in the following line:
Alas, how terrible is wisdom when it brings no profit to the wise!
This I knew well, but had forgotten it, else I would not have come here.
Symbol of Personal Transformation: Oedipus blinds himself when he realizes he has committed the forbidden act. He also believes that it is better to live in darkness and blindness rather than to see a terrible truth and live. He feels guilt and shame for his previous activities. He blinds himself as a form of punishment for his crimes. Thus, Oedipus’s self-blindness symbolizes his transformation and redemption. Oedipus says:
Why should I have eyes when there was nothing sweet for me to see?
Spiritual Redemption: To rectify himself, Oedipus blinds his two eyes with the pins from Jocasta’s clothing. He announces himself as a cursed man in Thebes. In the play’s final scene, Oedipus says,
I did not know what I was doing. But now that I do, I will suffer for it.
Why should I see, whose sight has brought me pain?
Oedipus realizes that he has been blind to the truth of his own life and believes that his physical blindness is necessary to achieve spiritual redemption. He describes that blindness will help him to open his inner eyes and to get redemption in the court of justice. Besides, Oedipus blinds himself because he cannot see the truth, though he has two clear eyes and is ignorant of God’s prophecy.
In termination, we can say Oedipus’ self-blinding is a dramatic climax to the play. It points to the tragic consequences of pride and the limitations of human knowledge.