Oedipus_Rex

Oedipus Rex The images of light and darkness, sight and blindness, and knowledge and ignorance are present in the Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. Throughout the play these contrasting images are always at the center of the conflict. Light and darkness are seen from the beginning of the play. Thebes is hit by a plague. The cause of this plague is that the murderer of King Laios hasn't been punished yet and until he is found and punished Thebes will be hit with a plague. The image of darkness is represented by this plague. In line 143 of the play Oedipus says 'then once more must I bring what is light to dark'. He says 'once more' referring to the Sphinx. The Sphinx is also another representation of darkness. Oedipus brought Thebes back to light when he solved the Sphinx riddle. The image of light and darkness can also be seen when Oedipus was born. The birth of a new life is an image of light. However Jocasta knew the prophecy of the oracle and decides that the newborn Oedipus should die. The death of a newborn is an image oedipus, darkness, light, image, play, king, truth, laios, images, about, thebes, plague, once, ignorance, blindness, sphinx, sight, past, oedipuss, murderer, knowledge, jocasta, however, himself, while, true, throughout, thinks, teiresias, seen, says, riddle, punished, place, physically