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Tiresias

            Many view Tiresias as gifted with the visions of prophecy.
             ability to foresee the future resembles a curse for Tiresias. The visions isolate Tiresias from the world. No one possesses his ability and therefore they cannot relate to his situation. Tiresias employs his visions to warn of approaching disaster but often his advice falls on deaf ears. Those who sought his counsel then mock him as a false prophet. The visions allow Tiresias to know all that will occur in the world. He witnesses the suffering of humanity. The burden of the visions causes Tiresias to weep. .
             As Tiresias" boy accompanies him down a Theban street he sees the prophet saddened. The boy tells Tiresias "Smile, master smile. You know fates lattice, the chattering crows tell you all." Tiresias" boy like everyone imagines the visions are a great gift that should be cherished. However he cannot possibly comprehend the weight the visions place on Tiresias" shoulders. .
             Tiresias holds the power of knowledge, which he must use wisely. Often when Tiresias reveals the information he knows men listen but gradually turn away as he foresees a dreadful future. They begin to believe Tiresias plots against them or has sold out for money. In "Antigone" Creon says "The generation of prophets has always loved gold." They do not realize that Tiresias refuses to use his powers for personal gain. They do not understand that the visions are a great responsibility the gods have given Tiresias. .
             In Scene V of "Antigone" Tiresias appears before Creon to caution him of what will .
             happen if he does not free Antigone and provide Polyneices a proper burial. Tiresias says to Creon "It is for your own good that I speak as I do." Tiresias only desires to use his power to save Creon from the tragedy that will befall him. Tiresias tells Creon "You stand once more on the edge of fate." Creon, like all the powerful men before him, refuses to listen once Tiresias utters the words he least wants to hear.


Essays Related to Tiresias

1. Oedipus/oates Compare&contrast

... unpleasant fates. Both of these stories have involved figures of psychic abilities that approach the protagonists in each story. Carter 2 In Oedipus the King, Tiresias is a blind prophet that has the ability to see the truth and predict the future. Not so likeable Arnold Friend in "Where Are You Going ... - (1266). His prediction came true. Oedipus and everyone in Thebes thought he was from a different land when in fact he was Theban born. Tiresias knew he killed his father before he became king, married his mother (Joscosta), and even had children with her. Eventually he does go blind b...

  • Word Count: 2789
  • Approx Pages: 11
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Antigone

... and changed his mind about Antigone's future. Instead, Creon continues to follow through with his original plan due to his unwillingness to be undermined by Tiresias and have Antigone walk away from her wrong doing as a heroine. What is so tragic about Antigone's death is that Creon had so many ... opportunities and warnings from others but he chose to ignore them. Even though Tiresias wish for Creon is not to endear the pain, he will have to go through if he follows through with Antigone's death. Creon will lose his ... who did the burying, he just wanted to point the finger at someone....

  • Word Count: 1097
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Oedpius

... caught up in a web of cruel destiny that he can not escape. The gods demonstrate foresight and insight into the play. In addition to this, Tiresias has physical blindness but also has prophetic insight. Finally, both Oedipus and Jocasta portray types of mental blindness and shortsightedness. These are all examples of different ... would not have fallen from power in such a tragic manner. Another ironic concept of sight in the play is found through Tiresias, the blind prophet. This is an oxymoron in itself. Tiresias is a wise old man who exhibits supernatural powers to interpret the past ...

  • Word Count: 725
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Blinding Fate - Oedipus The King

... Thebes. Oedipus immediately and publicly pronounces a curse on Laius's murderer, obviously having no clue that he is that man. Oedipus soon sends for Tiresias, so that he may acquire the identity of Laius's killer. When the blind prophet refuses to divulge who killed Laius, Oedipus demeans him for ... his blindness and states his disbelief in Tiresias's ability to prophesize. After much quarreling, Tiresias exclaims to all that Oedipus is the man he seeks. The King charges that the prophet is in Creon's pocket, involved ... abilities and has no idea that he is the Laius's murderer. As t...

  • Word Count: 2005
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Sophocles

... country" (138). Oedipus did not understand. Teiresias stated "I say that you are the murderer whom you seek" (147). Following that remark from Tiresias, Oedipus defended himself by accusing his brother in law, Creon. Oedipus's termination was caused simply because of his arrogance and his lack of self- ... solved mysteries and puzzles about subject other than he. Now that he was faced with riddles accusing him of something. Oedipus would have solved Tiresias'riddles instantaneously if it weren't for his pride, and lack of insight. Finally, the truth is forced on Oedipus with outstanding e...

  • Word Count: 1256
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Comparing Sophocle's Oedipus to Creon

... country" (138). Oedipus did not understand. Teiresias stated "I say that you are the murderer whom you seek" (147). Following that remark from Tiresias, Oedipus defended himself by accusing his brother in law, Creon. Oedipus's termination was caused simply because of his arrogance and his lack of self- ... solved mysteries and puzzles about subject other than he. Now that he was faced with riddles accusing him of something. Oedipus would have solved Tiresias'riddles instantaneously if it weren't for his pride, and lack of insight. Finally, the truth is forced on Oedipus with outstanding e...

  • Word Count: 1320
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

7. The Oedipus Cycle

... was the murder of Laios, Oedipus became enraged and showed how easily he could be overcome with emotion due to his temperamental attitude. After being told by Tiresias that he was the murderer of, Oedipus retaliated and proclaimed, "You dare say that! Can you possibly think you have some way of going ... free after such insolence?" (Sophocles 19). In a split second, Oedipus' view of Tiresias changed from being the person who could hold the key to solving the murder to a blind old man who was plotting to steal his throne by spreading lies. ... Oedipus began to let his emotions take over ...

  • Word Count: 1488
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

8. Oedipus Rex

... his life. Oedipus Rex is a play full of paradox. The imagery of sightedness and blindness highlight the contrasts between the characters. Tiresias, a prophet, who can see the future and knows what will happen to Oedipus, is physically blind. During the exchange between ... the truth about who Oedipus is and what will happen in his life. Oedipus, however, is unwilling to listen to Tiresias and ignores the truth of his words; speaking to Tiresias he says, referring to Tiresias" blindness, "Living in perpetual night, you cannot harm me, not any man else that sees the light." Oedipus ... wit,...

  • Word Count: 678
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Oedipus

... will eventually lead Oedipus to his downfall. Throughout the whole play, Oedipus displays the deadly sin of hubris. When talking to Tiresias, the soothsayer, Oedipus loses his cool. Getting angry at Tiresias for not coming out with the truth, Oedipus says, "Thou hast not spoken so loyally, nor friendly toward the State ... that bred thee, cheating her of this response." Here, the raging Oedipus implies that Tiresias is a phony. Again and again, Tiresias does not want to say what he knows because he knows that the truth will ruin Oedipus. Again, Oedipus loses his cool and says, ... the s...

  • Word Count: 579
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

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