A Painful Truth

     “Anyone searching for the truth, my king, might learn it from the prophet…” (324-325). In Oedipus The King, the prophet plays a very important role. In Greek literature, a prophecy possesses an individual’s fate, which cannot be avoided. An individual may try to avoid their fate anyway they can, but eventually it will happen. The prophet is the key to the mystery behind Thebe’s plague. Tiresias is the man who knows all, the man who “sees with the eyes of Apollo” (323). Although blind, this is why the people of Thebes value him as being one of the wisest men in the land. The reader understands the prophet is important because of how Oedipus praises him. He says he is, the “master of all the mysteries of our life” (341) and “the one shield, the one savior we can find” (346). Once Tiresias explains the prophecy and who the killer is, Thebes problems will vanish.  However, when Oedipus asks for the killer, Tiresias gives a suspicious answer. Tiresias says, “How terrible-to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees!” (359-360). Why is the truth painful and who is it painful for? Could the truth also be painful for Oedipus?  From the conversation, the reader may imply the prophecy has something to do with Oedipus. This intensifies the plot of the play because the revealment of Laius’ killer will be tragic for him. Tiresias refusal to answer makes Oedipus’ determination to find Laius’ killer even stronger. He will figure out the truth even if it kills him.