Table of Contents
How did Oedipus treat Tiresias?
When Tiresias arrives at line 340, Oedipus praises him as an all-powerful seer who has shielded Thebes from many a plague. Only forty lines later, he refers to Tiresias as “scum,” and soon after that accuses him of treason. Oedipus sizes up a situation, makes a judgment, and acts—all in an instant.
How does Oedipus offend Tiresias and the gods?
Oedipus accuses Tiresias of being liar, being a conspirator, taking part in the murder of the king, and all he can do is riddles, because he doesn’t want to believe the thing Tiresias is telling him.
Why is King Oedipus upset with Tiresias?
Both Jocasta and Oedipus are skeptical of his prophecies. In this scene, Oedipus gets angry at Teiresias because the prophet won’t reveal the identity of Laius’ murderer. It’s clever of Sophocles to use this scene to show Oedipus’ temper.
What does Oedipus accuse Tiresias of doing?
Oedipus accuses Teiresias of “play[ing] [a] part” in the murder of Laius (line 414). He doesn’t appear to have any evidence to support this accusation; it’s just a “feeling” that Oedipus has (line 413).
What does Teiresias reveal to Oedipus as a result of the king’s angry accusation?
What does Teiresias reveal to Oedipus as a result of the king’s angry accusation? As a result of the king’s angry accusations, Tiresias reveals to Oedipus that his parents are not his birth parents. Note the frequent equation of physical sight with knowledge throughout this scene.
What does Teiresias tell Oedipus and why does that make him mad?
Now angry, Oedipus accuses Tiresias of plotting to kill Laius. This upsets Tiresias, who tells Oedipus that Oedipus himself is the cause of the plague—Oedipus is the murderer of Laius. As the insults fly back and forth, Tiresias hints that Oedipus is guilty of further outrages.
What is Teiresias prophecy for Odysseus?
In The Odyssey Odysseus is warned by the blind prophet Tiresias that all of the sacred cattle of the Sun God Helios should be left alone. Tiresias says that the cattle should be avoided at whatever cost, and that if they are not, the men will all meet their doom.
What is Tiresias prophecy to Odysseus?
What is ironic about Tiresias and Oedipus?
The argument between Oedipus and the prophet Tiresias is a hotbed for dramatic irony. Ironically, once Oedipus finally begins to ‘see’ the truth he becomes physically blind himself just like Tiresias. Oedipus begins the play as physically able to see but figuratively blind, and ends the play as the inverse.
Why is this statement by Oedipus ironic quizlet?
Terms in this set (5) Ironic because Oedipus Rex becomes blind too. So, when Oedipus confidently tells Creon, his brother-in-law, that only a foolish man can commit gravely sins against his family and expect mercy from the gods, both the reader and audience understand the implications of his words better than he does.
Who is Tiresias in Oedipus the king?
Character Analysis Tiresias. Character Analysis. Tiresias. The blind prophet of Thebes appears in Oedipus the King and Antigone. In both plays, he represents the same force — the truth rejected by a willful and proud king, almost the personification of Fate itself. Tiresias comes to Oedipus against his will, not wanting to explain the meaning
Why is scene one of Oedipus and Teiresias important?
In Scene one lines 284-448 Oedipus is speaking to Teiresias a blind prophet, he asks Teiresias to reveal Laius’ killer. This passage has defining characteristics that are important to the play as a whole, which can be simply conveyed on stage.
How did Oedipus find out that King Laius was his mother?
The truth is that Oedipus killed King Laius years ago in a fight at a crossroads, but he did not know that it was King Laius. Later on, Oedipus saved Thebes and married King Laius’s widow, Jocasta, who turns out to be his mother. Once King Oedipus discovers the truth, he leaves Thebes, self-blinded and alone. Are you a student or a teacher?
Who was the king of Thebes in Oedipus Rex?
Oedipus Rex is an ancient Greek play written by Sophocles. The play tells the tragic story of King Oedipus, the king of Thebes, who seeks the advice of an oracle, which is a person who knows the future. Meanwhile, a plague threatens Thebes.