holding her robes- and lifting them high,
looking straight up into the points,
he digs them down the sockets of his eyes..." (1402-1405).
Analysis: Oedipus bursts through the bedroom doors after discovering the haunting truth about his origin. He proceeds to stab his eyes with the brooches from Jocasta's robe, blinding himself because he cannot bare to see the world now that he knows the truth about himself. There couldn't possible be anything worse for Oedipus than knowing that the prophecy he feared, happened. The use of the word "rips" provides us with some imagery. It allows us to see him ripping the pins off without any hesitation. He lacked any kind of fear as he was "looking straight up into the points". Looking away would imply that there is fear present within him. His deep anger is evident as he "digs" them into his eyes; not softly, but hard and deep. The only emotions Oedipus feels at this point is disappointment and anger because his actions in this moment are careless and he is aware that this discovery has ultimately ruined his life and he can no longer bare to see the world because his eyes have witnessed it all.
Readers Response: This quote is so visual and disturbing because despite how bad something may turn out in ones life, I could never really imagine someone having to resort to stabbing their eyes. I think that thought, for me at least, is what makes Oedipus blinding himself even more shocking. It really makes me realize how important it was for Oedipus to discover the truth, and now that he has, it's so upsetting that it has basically ruined his life. He was aware of the prophecy and he was so afraid of it that he tried to avoid it but completely unaware of anything, he was walking straight into it.
Sophocles. Oedipus the King. The Three Theban Plays. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin Classics, 1984. Print.
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