Teiresias Blind Prophet Given wisdom by

Apollo Lived seven lifetimes

as both woman and man

After death he was sole person in Hades to retain gifts of speech and understanding

Teiresias’s Role in Oedipus His blindness reveals

the truth Confrontation with

Oedipus concerning true “vision”

Reveals Oedipus’ hamartia (excess pride/impetuousness)

Didactism

Oedipus the Character A man of extremes Proclaims himself “God-

like) Tempts fate Disregards Teiresias due

to his “blindness” Does sight = knowledge? Flawed due to hubris

(excess pride)

Oedipus and Tiresias: “I know that the

vision of our lord Tiresias is most like that of Lord Apollo.”

Although blind Tiresias has insight greater than that of a man.

Oedipus and Tiresias “You cannot equal the

gods…but we do rate you first of men.”

Oedipus is sighted as men are; yet he lacks insight into the truth about himself and his world, as all mortals are likely to lack such insight.

Tiresias: “I tell you, you and your loved ones live together, in infamy, you cannot see how far you’ve gone in guilt.”

Mutual accusations draw heavily on the image of blindness

Oedipus and Tiresias Oedipus: “You’ve lost your

power, stone-blind, stone – deaf, senses, eyes as blind as stone.”

Tiresias: “ I pity you, flinging at me the very insults each man here will fling at you soon.”

Oedipus: “Blind, lost in the night, endless night that nursed you! You can’t hurt me or anyone else who sees the light – you can never touch me.”

Tiresias: “You with your precious eyes you’re blind to the corruption of your life... You mock my blindness, do you? But I say that you, with both your eyes, are blind.”

The “Big” QuestionWhat is man? What is the purpose of existence?Man most often questions the nature of

existence during a period of flux• A violent, changing world• Social, political, and philosophical conflict• Fear abounds

Sophocles is conflicted between Traditionalism (Gods and Myths <Fate>) and Individualism (the new democracy <Free Will>)

O Generation of mortal menI add up the total of your livesAnd find it equals nothing

The Olympians

Zeus

King of godsHeavenStormsThunderLightning Bolt

Apollo (Phoebus)God of the sunMusicPoetryFine artsMedicine

Hades

Brother to Zeus and PoseidonKing of the Underworld (Tartarus)Husband of Persphone

Dionysus (Bacchus)

God of WinePartying (Revelry)

Hermes

Messenger to the gods Trade Commerce Travelers Thieves & scoundrels

Athena

Goddess of wisdomPractical artsWar

Artemis

Goddess of hunting and the moon.

Demeter

Goddess of HarvestAgricultureFertilityFruitfulnessMom to Persephone

Hera

Queen of godsWomenMarriageChildbirth

Poseidon

Zeus’s brotherKing of the seaEarthquakesHorses

Ares

God of war

HephaestusGod of fireCraftspeopleMetalworkersArtisans

Hestia

Goddess of HearthHomeCommunity

Aphrodite

Goddess of love and beauty