Journal 4: Oedipus

"How terrible- to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees!" Here we have the image of eyes, as shown through this quote by Tiresias. The imagery of eyes is commonly used throughout the play, where in eyes have come to represent being exposed to, and havin to live with the inherent evil and immorality of the world. As Tiresias states, eyes are a device which grants us clarity, and a vision of the world around us. But who wants to see, when there is nothing in the world to see except pain and misery? After Oedipus gouges out his eyes, he says; "What good were eyes to me? Nothing I could ever see would bring me joy." in which the imagery of eyes is used to represent the hopelessness of his existance. Such is the fate of Oedipus to dwell in misery, so he would certainly rather not have to see that misery, through the clarity of vision provided by his eyes.