Sophocles expresses his own conservative views on prophecy by setting up the double irony of a blind man who can see the future and a seeing man who is nevertheless blind to his own past and present blind even to his own identity. Sight and Blindness as Symbols in Oedipus Rex - SummaryStory Throughout the entire play, his relationship with his past is one of ignorance. We do not wish to kill our father and marry our mother, but we can relate metaphorically to his situation. Give us your email address and well send this sample there. These flaws are pride, leading to overconfidence and having poor judgement. Oedipus is a hero with mostly good intentions but because of his tragic flaw of ignorance ends himself in agony. Life is very short. Polynices and Eteocles die in battle with one another, and it could be argued that Polynices death at least is self-inflicted in that he has heard his fathers curse and knows that his cause is doomed. Tiresias is literally blind, but he can see clearly of not only Oedipus ' past, present, but also the horror in his future. Contact us Wed love to have you back! Nothing I could see could bring me joy." Thus the idea of sight is critical in Oedipus the King . He becomes very prideful and doesnt want to believe the truth that is being revealed to him and his people. "XTiresias responds by using the same metaphor: "I'm blind you say; you mock at that! Lines 169-244. So this is what he wants, Creon the loyal, Creon so long my friend!