38-40

David Hsiao


 * SUMMARY**

In these pages, Oedipus, Creon, and Jocasta are having an argument regarding the innocence of Creon. Oedipus believes that Creon is planning to overthrow him for his position as king. Creon argues for his own innocence by arguing that he is loyal to Oedipus. He claims that Oedipus is being arrogant and blinded by his own anger. He also brings up the question of why he'd try to overthrow Oedipus, as he shares equal power in the city. Jocasta argues in favor of Creon, her brother. Oedipus chooses to either banish or kill Creon for "trying to overthrow" him, but later decides to listen to Jocasta and the people and let him go, as Creon has always been loyal to the city and to Oedipus.

This whole argument stemmed from when Creon sent Teiresias to Oedipus to tell him that he may be the murderer of King Laius, which infuriates Oedipus. Oedipus is blinded by this anger and arrogance and accuses Creon of the crimes.


 * ANALYSIS**

In this section of the play, Oedipus accuses Creon of conspiring with Teiresias to overthrow Oedipus' position as king. This is one of the many scenes in the play when Oedipus reveals his flaw: arrogance. His arrogance stems from and also creates blindness. Oedipus has consulted Teiresias and says he'd even kneel down to Teiresias to find the answers. However, once he hears news that displeases himself, his arrogance arises and he accuses the others of conspiracy and listens to nobody.

Irony, constant throughout the play, also appears in this scene. Oedipus ironically calls Creon and Teiresias 'blind', whe he does not see that he is the blind one. The irony is so strong in this scene as Oedipus argues so strongly for his own case because of his arrogance. Not only does he show his flaw of arrogance now more than ever, but this scene also lets all spectators of the play gain a type of 'power'. The audience knows that Oedipus is the prophecy's victim of parricide and incest, but neither Oedipus or the rest of the characters know. The irony and blindness of the characters creates a comical sense in a ethically terrible way. In a way it's humorous, but sad, how little the characters know. Irony is used in this sense to carry out that function.

Not only do irony and the motif of blindness recur in this part of the play to give the audience a sense of power and humor, they also help to create suspense. Ironically, even though the play and this scene create power for the audience that knows the whole situation from a somewhat omniscient view, they still do not and cannot predict the future.

In conclusion, this scene of the play uses irony and the motif of blindness to affect the audience of the play. Oedipus's flaw of arrogance is shown perhaps only in these short pages, despite being somewhat 'perfect' throughout the rest of the play. Oedipus, although an exemplar person, exerts the arrogance in order for the audience to have a reason to find flaw and change in the plot, which builds suspense and creates excitement/ironic humor.