In the beginning of "Oedipus the King," Sophocles exposes how power can metaphorically blind a person. The gods tell Oedipus that, one day, he will kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus is later confronted by the blind prophet, Tiresias, about his wrongdoings - including the murder of his father, the king of Thebes - and is warned that he must open his eyes and "see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees.".
With wisdom, Tiresias points out that Oedipus has a flaw; his inability to see the truth. Oedipus, on the other hand is naive, blind and arrogant. He's consumed by his own power and cares little for anyone but himself. Oedipus refuses to believe, indeed, he cannot see, that he has done anything wrong. He tells Tiresias that he should mind his own business and pay more attention to his own flaw; physical blindness. Instead of recognizing what he has failed to see he is rather egotistical, unperceptive and downright mean to Tiresias. Assuming that Tiresias is trying to steal his power he shades himself from the truth and does not listen to his wisdom and advice unaware that once he finds out his diagnosis he will face repercussions that will affect him for eternity. In Oedipus's mind he believes thieves killed King Laius which is what he is told. He does not know that he was adopted. Tiresias notifies Oedipus of his symptoms and even reveal to him his diagnosis and the damage it can cause if does not take precautions: "Listen to me closely. The man you've sought so long, proclaiming, cursing up and down, the murderer of Laius-he is here. A stranger, you may think, who lives among you, he soon will be revealed a native Theban but he will take no joy in revelation. Blind who now has eyes, beggar who now is rich, he will grope his way toward a foreign soil, a stick tapping before him step by step" (I.i.510-19).
But, as most people would do, Oedipus ignores the seriousness of the issue and like cancer it spreads and becomes too late.
