Theban Legend Analysis

Before the poem opens, there is an account of how the city of Thebes was founded. It is called “The Theban Legend”. As with all legends, the first occurrence is explained in order to provide an explanation for all subsequent events. This is the role that is served by all mythologies and legends. Seeing as this precedes the poem, it is a telling precursor that provides an explanation as to why the events unfold in the way that they do.
The legend begins with the guidance of an oracle – the one at Delphi. It is relayed to Cadmus what he must do in order to found a city. As preparations are made, those that were to be his first inhabitants were devoured by a nearby dragon. Right at the beginning of a creation there is an experience of ill-omen, or bad luck. Moving forward, Cadmus is guided yet again by the Heavens. He accomplishes this task, however not all turns out well. The beings that were born from his labors were many in number, yet were reduced to smaller numbers due to their anger and violence towards each other. Those that remained submitted themselves to Cadmus, of which he was then able to create Thebes. From here we have a creation of a human …show more content…
Despite Tiresias being blind, as a prophet is still able to “see” what Oedipus is unable to see himself. In his conversation with Oedipus he asks, “Have you eyes, and do not see your own damnation? Eyes, and cannot see what company you keep?” (Sophocles, 2014, lines 411-13). This reference to sight clearly revolves around self-knowledge and comprehension of the forces behind one 's thoughts, actions, and behavior. For Oedipus there’s a great deal of looking outward at the actions of those around himself, but very little insight and seemingly inability to look at one’s owns actions for “fear” of being incorrect. Oedipus goes so far as to blame Creon for the words of Tiresias, until the information provided to him by Jocasta causes a shift in his