ODDYSSEUS FROM “THE ODYSSEY” AND OEDIPUS FROM “OEDIPUS THE KING/REX”

Compare and Contrast Oddysseus from “The Odyssey” and Oedipus from “Oedipus the King/Rex”

Compare and Contrast Oddysseus from “The Odyssey” and Oedipus from “Oedipus the King/Rex”

Sophocles' Oedipus the King and Homer's Odyssey both deal on the topic of truth. In both works the character Tiresias, a blind prophet, participates in the different journeys by revealing various truths to the main characters. While the main importance of Tiresias in The Odyssey is to show that truth can be helpful, his importance in Oedipus the King is to attempt to discourage Oedipus on his journey to find the truth because he knows the truth can be negative as well. (Loraux 1995)

The first thing that should be examined is the different ways that Tiresias reveals the truth in the two works. In The Odyssey, Tiresias is direct and to the point. He starts by stating that “A sweet smooth journey home … is what you seek, but a god will make it hard for you.” From what can be read, Tiresias feels no need 'sugarcoat' what he is telling for two simple reasons. First, he came willingly to Odysseus, sugarcoating the truth would be a waste of time. The second and more important reason is that he has good news for Odysseus, relative to what has happened so far. On the other hand, in Oedipus the King, Tiresias skirts around telling Oedipus the truth. In fact, he initially refused to tell Oedipus anything at all, seen in such lines as “You'll get nothing from me” and “I'll never reveal my dreadful secrets.” The important thing is that when Oedipus got Tiresias angered, Tiresias bluntly stated that “[Oedipus is] the curse, the corruption of the land.” When Oedipus responds to this, which will be discussed later, he continues to berate Tiresias for 'lying'. Following that, Sophocles uses Tiresias to foreshadow the rest of the play for the reader, while cryptically half-hiding and half-telling Oedipus the truth, which is essentially ignored. The fact that Tiresias had to be summoned, instead of coming on his own, and that Tiresias attempted to hide the truth from Oedipus, shows that Tiresias was trying to protect Oedipus. He knew it would cause Oedipus harm in the end. Tiresias' differing attitudes in the works serves as a parallel to how the truth told in general. Truth that brings hope to people is normally easily given, but truth that brings sadness or despair is generally told with caution and reluctance. (Di Rocco 2007)

The reaction to the information given by Tiresias is also important due to its difference. In Homer's work, Odysseus' reaction to the news is different than the joy that one might normally expect. Instead of a reaction of happiness or joy, Odysseus simply asks how he can communicate with his dead mother. But this in itself reveals something important. Essentially, Odysseus is now aware that he has more than a good chance of returning home soon, but ...