Oedipus The Play

The Rise and Fall of Oedipus

In his novel Brave New World, Aldous Huxley uses intellect as both the rise and fall of John the Savage. The Ð''Savage' enters civilization and instantly becomes somewhat of a celebrity because of his knowledge of the outside world. He learns quickly of the conformist society, and is eventually disgusted by what he sees. Shortly after his arrival in civilization, John the Savage is internally torn apart by his knowledge and eventually commits suicide. Oedipus the Play is somewhat parallel to Brave New World Ð'- Sophocles also uses intellect as the hero's fatal flaw. In Oedipus the Play, there are three great polarities: fame and shame, sight and blindness, and ignorance and insight. These polarities are intertwined with Oedipus' reliance on intellect, and all contribute to his downfall. Throughout his search for identity, Oedipus experiences the great polarities that reflect his reliance on intellect as both his greatest strength and his ultimate downfall.

The first great polarity, fame and shame, is experienced by Oedipus through his defeat of the Sphinx and the tragic discovery of his cursed marriage. Shortly before Oedipus becomes king, he defeats a Sphinx that held the city of Thebes captive. Here intellect is Oedipus' greatest strength Ð'- by answering the Sphinx correctly, Oedipus gains fame, a kingdom, and a wife. Without realizing his relations to the Queen, Jocasta, Oedipus willingly marries her as a reward for defeating the Sphinx. He begins to believe "the world knows [his] fame," and believes himself invincible (l. 8). However, when Oedipus discovers his identity at the end of Oedipus the Play, his shame exposes intellect as his greatest downfall. Oedipus finally learns of his adoption, Laius, and the chaos he creates by marrying Jocasta. He truly becomes "the curse, the corruption of the land," when he gains knowledge of his identity (l. 401). In this case, intellect and Oedipus' shame cause him to blind himself, bringing about his downfall.

As the play progresses, Oedipus changes from a man of ignorance to one of insight as he learns the truth of his identity. The true sight and knowledge of the blind prophet Tiresias reveals the ignorance of Oedipus, which eventually brings about his downfall. While Oedipus claims "[he] wasn't asleep, dreaming," he is completely unaware of the horrible reality of his marriage and parents (l. 77). Tiresias knows what the knowledge would do to Oedipus, and everyone in Thebes, and tries to persuade Oedipus to let him go. However, Oedipus is ignorant of the knowledge Tiresias holds and goads Tiresias into revealing the truth, revealing that Oedipus himself is "the curse, the corruption of the land" (l. 401). Oedipus is unwilling to accept reality and convinces himself that Tiresias is "stone-blind [and] stone-deaf," that Tiresias is ignorant himself (l. 422). However, by calling on the shepherd to investigate Tiresias' words, Oedipus "stand[s] revealed at last Ð'- cursed in birth, cursed in marriage, and cursed in [the murder of Laius]" (l. 1308-10). By discovering the truth of his identity, Oedipus obtains incredible insight to the monstrous things he had done, exposing more of his fatal flaw. Also, in her attempt to convince Oedipus of his innocence, Jocasta makes the truth even more apparent to Oedipus. She reveals the facts of Laius' murder to Oedipus - Laius