What did Oedipus poked his eyes out with?

What did Oedipus poked his eyes out with?

gold pins
In fact, he was metaphorically blind to the truth of his birth for much of his life; when Oedipus finally learned the truth, he physically blinded himself by poking out his eyes with the long gold pins from his dead wife’s brooches.

What is the Oedipal curse?

The idea of the Oedipus Complex is derived from Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus, during which Oedipus learned that he was cursed to kill his father and sleep with his mother.

What was the prophecy of Tiresias about Oedipus?

Tiresias then tells Oedipus that the murderer of Laius will turn out to be both brother and father to his children, both son and husband to his mother. He also predicts that the murderer of Laius will become blind and poor as he leaves Thebes and travels to a foreign land.

Why does Oedipus use brooches to blind himself?

This truth led to the demise of his wife and mother and brought Oedipus to blind himself using two golden pins from Jocasta’s regal dress. Metaphorically, this is an act of punishment that Oedipus put on himself because he is ashamed of what he has done.

What were the final words of Tiresias in Oedipus?

Tiresias answers only in riddles, saying that the murderer of Laius will turn out to be both brother and father to his children, both son and husband to his mother. The characters exit and the Chorus takes the stage, confused and unsure whom to believe.

Why does Tiresias refuse to tell Oedipus the truth?

To Oedipus, blind prophet Tiresias is neglecting his civic duty by refusing to speak. He asserts that any “patriot of Thebes” would speak whatever knowledge he has and try to help find the murderer of the King so that he can be brought to justice.

What does Oedipus do with Jocasta’s brooches?

Realizing he’d fulfilled the prophesy despite his best efforts, Oedipus took his wife’s brooch (the same she’d used to pierce his ankles) and put out his eyes.

What does Jocasta’s brooches symbolize?

With the use of the brooches, Oedipus “sees” his fate and acknowledges his avoidance of the truth. The tragic ending shows Oedipus accepting the prophecy he was unable to acknowledge in the past. In other words, the brooches cause the final darkness that was ultimately meant to happen.

Why does Oedipus stab his eyes out?

Seeing this, Oedipus sobbed and embraced Jocasta. He then took the gold pins that held her robes and, with them, stabbed out his eyes. He kept raking the pins down his eyes, crying that he could not bear to see the world now that he had learned the truth.

What does Oedipus blindness symbolize?

Oedipus blinds himself as a symbol of self-realization and insight. It is an irony because he chooses to be physically blind after seeing everything he has done. He realizes that he was figuratively blind throughout the play, therefore he punishes himself by blinding himself.

What is the final punishment for Oedipus?

At the end of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, the protagonist Oedipus has gouged out his own eyes and is sent into exile.