Oedipus the King
Blindness in Sophocles' "Oedipus the King"
In his article, Benjamin Kilborne argues that the Freudian themes we undergo to interpret Oedipus within the play are significant to a degree, but are not central to the play. Rather, Kilborne argues that the shame and blindness of Oedipus are more core to the play's significance than the commonly known Freudian themes of psychoanalysis.
In terms of blindness within the play, the theme is indeed quite prominent. One particular instance Kilborne focus upon is Oedipus' idea of kingship.
"Oedipus, like Lear, takes the accouterments of kingship too seriously and believes in kingly illusions of power. As long as he relies on the appearance of kingship for his power, power requires blindness. In one way, of course, had Oedipus not been blind to his own fate, he could never have become king of Thebes, the Delphic oracle could not have been vindicated, and the possibility for a restoration of order would have been missing from the play" (Kilborne 2003).
Secondly, those familiar with the play ought to recall Tiresias, the blind seer.
"
Tiresias: Yea, if the might of truth can aught prevail.
Oedipus: With other men, but not with thee, for thou In ear, wit, eye, in everything art blind.
Tiresias: Poor fool to utter gibes at me which all Here present will cast back on thee ere long.
"
(Oedipus the King)
Tiresias, the all-knowing seer, who refuses to answer Oedipus' demand for knowledge of the murderer is another demonstration of how literal blindness can often enable a higher order of perception than those able-bodied. Sophocles uses the conversation between Oedipus, in a blind rage, and Tiresias, a literal blind seer, to illuminate the king's corruption.