Oedipus: Sight vs. Blindness The concept of sight versus blindness mentioned throughout Sophocles’ famous work Oedipus Rex is truly representative of the idea of knowledge versus ignorance, and it used by this playwright to highlight the ignorance and tragic self-discovery of Oedipus. Many of Sophocles’ characters, including the king himself, incorporate this motif of light versus darkness into their analysis of both Oedipus and the situation at hand. Many statements made by Oedipus in this …showed first 75 words of 493 total…

…showed last 75 words of 493 total…desired, nothing beautiful whatsoever. By removing his sight, he would remove any means of gaining knowledge. The conflict of sight versus blindness can easily be equated with the concepts of knowledge versus ignorance and light versus darkness. Sophocles uses these ideas effectively in highlighting the ignorance and “enlightenment” of Oedipus throughout the play, proving that Sophocles himself must believe that knowledge is key in life, and anyone who is ignorant is truly living in darkness.