Oedipus68to70


 * Oedipus the King, Pages 68-70

Summary** Oedipus has just blinded himself with Jocasta's brooches and is exchanging lines with the Chorus. Oedipus is lamenting the "evil deeds" he has committed, and blames Apollo for his fate. However, he states that it was his own intention to blind himself because nothing in the world that he would want to see. Oedipus then requests banishment, describing himself as an accursed man that God hates above all other men. He further deplores his past; beginning with the man who saved him as a baby. The Chorus feels he would be better off dead than in his blind, living state. Oedipus continues to condemn the aspects of his life, wishing he had died at birth instead of being in his incestuous marriage.

Oedipus, having recently blinded himself literally, mirrors his blindness to his marriage and the parricide, as well as to his predestined fate that he did not believe was possible. Not only is he grieving about his physical blindness, but the chorus notes the "double weight" of his misfortunes (referring to the acts above). All references to vision related words carry the same double meaning: his failure to foresee his fate and his actual blindness. It is ironic that in his life with vision, he could not see the truth, and at the revelation of his deeds he chooses to blind himself.
 * Analysis**

Oedipus blames his fate on Apollo, the first aspect of his "blindness", yet attributes the fault of his physical blindness completely to himself. He says this (and blinds himself) in an attempt to take back some control of his life. He also chooses not to commit suicide for the same reason, and although the chorus suggests that suicide would be a better option, Oedipus maintains that his decision was the best one and not to question his choice. Oedipus is a proud man, and can act impetuously as shown in this case. His cursing of the world serves to reiterate his state of distress.