Why Did the People of Thebes Respect Tiresias, the Blind Prophet?
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
Why did the people of Thebes respect Tiresias, the blind prophet?
Tiresias is the blind prophet in “Oedipus Rex” (429 BC) by Sophocles (496-406 BC). He plays a prophetic role in the drama. Tiresias, the blind prophet, commands respect for several reasons.
Prophetic Accuracy: Tiresias has a record of accurate prophecies. He has the gift of foresight. The prophecy about Oedipus states:
You have your eyes but see not where you are in sin, nor where you live, nor whom you live with.
This foresight is often seen as divine insight. This establishes his credibility and earns him respect.
Wisdom and Experience: His age and wisdom command respect. Tiresias is portrayed as an aged and experienced figure. He spent his life solving the complexities of fate and human nature. This depth of experience is evident when he says,
Alas, how terrible is wisdom when it brings no profit to the wise.
His profound understanding of the consequences of knowledge and fate advances his stature in the eyes of the Thebans.
Fearless Truth-Telling: Tiresias fearlessly speaks truth to powerful authority. He boldly faces Oedipus. This fearlessness is evident when he tells Oedipus,
I say you are the murderer whom you seek
This challenges the king’s authority and reveals uncomfortable truths. His stubborn commitment to truth earns him admiration and respect.
Divine Connection: Tiresias’s blindness symbolizes an alternative way of ‘seeing’—a sight beyond the physical realm. His blindness is paradoxically linked to his insight. This indicates a deeper connection to divine knowledge. This divine connection is hinted at when he says,
I, even though blind, can see the truth.
The belief in his connection to the Gods and the supernatural realm adds to his respected status among the people of Thebes.
Despite his physical blindness, he is blessed with spiritual insight. Tiresias’s combination of prophetic accuracy, wisdom, fearlessness in truth-telling, and perceived divine connection increases his respect and influence within the society of Thebes.