He realizes that the prophecies are true: that he slept with his mother and murdered his father. He sees no better way but to take justice into his own hands. Oedipus punishes himself, then carries out his previous edict and leaves Thebes. Order is never truly restored, Oedipus is punished, however the citizens of Thebes are left shocked and Oedipus still did terrible things. Teiresias is passive throughout most of the play, including the restoration of order. “How dreadful knowledge of the truth can be / When there’s no help in truth! I knew this well, / But made myself forget. I should not have come.” (304-306). Teiresias represents the saying “knowledge is power.” He attempts to keep order by refusing to reveal his knowledge until Oedipus threatens him. Teiresias wants to protect the people; in addition to knowing Oedipus’s sins, he knows what will happen when the people find out. His wisdom is what causes the initial chaos. Clearly Oedipus is not ready to learn what Teiresias knows as chaos
He realizes that the prophecies are true: that he slept with his mother and murdered his father. He sees no better way but to take justice into his own hands. Oedipus punishes himself, then carries out his previous edict and leaves Thebes. Order is never truly restored, Oedipus is punished, however the citizens of Thebes are left shocked and Oedipus still did terrible things. Teiresias is passive throughout most of the play, including the restoration of order. “How dreadful knowledge of the truth can be / When there’s no help in truth! I knew this well, / But made myself forget. I should not have come.” (304-306). Teiresias represents the saying “knowledge is power.” He attempts to keep order by refusing to reveal his knowledge until Oedipus threatens him. Teiresias wants to protect the people; in addition to knowing Oedipus’s sins, he knows what will happen when the people find out. His wisdom is what causes the initial chaos. Clearly Oedipus is not ready to learn what Teiresias knows as chaos