It is often said that pride comes before a fall. I believe this is true, with one exception. The prideful must first trip over the truth, which causes the fall. Such is the case of Oedipus the King in Sophocles" Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex. The conflict of this tragedy is between ignorance and truth. Oedipus is unable to see the truth because of his ignorance, therefore, his two main characteristics, being pride and blindness, ultimately lead to his downfall. .
Pride is a sense of one's own proper dignity or value. Oedipus is very well spoken. His words are confident and strong. He stands tall and upright and is placed in the center of the action and his people look up to him. He knows his value to the people of Thebes, especially after solving the riddle of the Sphinx. His pride has fueled his search for the truth regarding the murder of King Laios. His pride leads him to the truth and the truth is his downfall. If he had not built himself up and forced Teiresias to tell him the truth he would not have fallen. Blindness is relating to a sightless person. The wise prophet Teiresias characterizes the physical aspect of blindness but Oedipus is also a blind character because of his inability to see the truth in front of him. Oedipus" blindness is metaphoric. In scene one lines 284 to 448 of Oedipus Rex the conflict between ignorance and truth, pride and blindness is battled out in the meeting between Oedipus and Teiresias. .
The Choragos introduces Teiresias as a man in whom truth is born. (Coldewey, Streitberger. Oedipus Scene 1, line 286) Tieresias" character is the symbol of truth in the play. Oedipus greets him with praise. Right away he makes a reference to Teiresias" blindness. "Blind though you are, you know the city lies sick with plague-(C&S Oedipus Scene 1, lines 290-291) .
This is an ironic statement because although Teiresias is blind physically, he is the only one who sees the truth.
