Oedipus's Tragic Denial: Why Does He Ignore Fate?

How Does Oedipus Ignore the Truth? The Tragic Denial of Fate

Oedipus’s Struggle with Ignorance

Well, if you’ve ever read Oedipus Rex, you’ll know that the entire story revolves around the tragic journey of Oedipus, the King of Thebes, who does everything in his power to avoid the truth. But what makes this so tragic is how he repeatedly ignores it, even when it’s staring him in the face. Honestly, I’ve always been fascinated by this. Why does Oedipus refuse to believe what he is slowly discovering about himself, even as it’s revealed piece by piece? It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion, and I couldn’t help but feel frustrated for him.

The Prophecy: Oedipus’s First Encounter with the Truth

Okay, let’s start from the beginning. The prophecy that Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother is delivered before he is even born. The moment this prophecy is given, Oedipus is doomed to fulfill it, and yet, he does everything possible to avoid it. He runs away from his home, leaving behind his parents, trying to avoid his fate. In doing so, he thinks he’s outsmarting the gods. But, honestly, this is the first sign of how much he will ignore the truth: he thinks he has control over fate itself.

Denial of the Prophecy

When he hears the prophecy, Oedipus is horrified and desperate to change his destiny. What struck me was how he sees the prophecy as a challenge, as if by running away from his adoptive parents, he can escape the inevitable. This refusal to accept the prophecy as something he cannot change is where he begins to ignore the truth. His belief that he can outrun fate leads him down a destructive path, and he’s so fixated on controlling his own future that he dismisses all the signs leading to his doom.

The Clues: Oedipus’s Ignorance Grows

So here’s the thing—Oedipus is given several clues that should immediately reveal the truth to him. But does he stop and reflect? Not really. In fact, he continues to ignore these clues at every turn, even when they grow more obvious. For example, the encounter with the old man at the crossroads. Oedipus kills this man in a fit of rage, unaware that the man is his father, Laius. This moment is a huge clue, but does he see it for what it is? No. Instead, he carries on with his investigation into Laius's murder, blind to the fact that he’s already played a role in the tragedy.

The Blindness of Oedipus

Actually, the most ironic part of Oedipus’s journey is his physical blindness. At the start of the play, Oedipus is hailed as a man who sees everything—he’s a great king, he solved the riddle of the Sphinx, and he’s known for his wisdom. But in reality, he is completely blind to the truth about his own life. It’s almost like he’s too stubborn, too proud to acknowledge what’s been laid out in front of him. I’ve often thought about how we can be like Oedipus in our own lives—sometimes, we ignore the obvious truths, either because we’re too afraid to face them or because we think we know better than everyone else. Sound familiar?

The Moment of Revelation: The Truth Finally Breaks Through

Now, here's where the tragedy really hits. Oedipus does eventually learn the truth, but it comes at a devastating cost. He finally learns that Jocasta is his mother and that he has, in fact, killed his father. This realization comes after a series of agonizing clues and warnings that he refuses to see. What’s so gut-wrenching is how he is unable to stop himself from unraveling the truth. His tragic flaw—his stubbornness, his need for control—finally leads him to a revelation he cannot undo.

Jocasta’s Death and Oedipus’s Own Blindness

When Oedipus finds out the truth, Jocasta hangs herself, and Oedipus, in his despair, blinds himself. This self-inflicted blindness is both literal and symbolic—he is now physically blind but has finally seen the truth he had spent so long trying to avoid. His refusal to accept the truth, his persistent denial, culminates in this heartbreaking moment. Honestly, I remember reading this and feeling a mix of disbelief and sadness. It’s like watching someone you care about crash and burn despite all the warnings they’ve been given.

Why Does Oedipus Ignore the Truth?

Okay, so why does Oedipus ignore the truth so relentlessly? Honestly, I think it’s because he’s terrified of it. The truth he faces is so catastrophic, so beyond his control, that it’s easier to pretend it doesn’t exist. I think this fear of the unknown, or the fear of facing something too terrible to accept, is something most people can relate to. Sometimes, it feels like it would be easier to ignore the truth rather than confront it, even if that truth is staring us in the face.

Conclusion: Oedipus’s Tragic Denial

In the end, Oedipus’s story is a tragic tale of ignorance and denial. He refuses to believe the truth until it’s too late, and by then, the damage is irreparable. His fate was sealed long before he was born, but his refusal to accept it makes his downfall all the more tragic. Honestly, I think Oedipus’s story serves as a powerful reminder that, no matter how hard we try to avoid the truth, we will have to face it eventually. And sometimes, facing it head-on is the hardest thing we’ll ever do.

So, next time you find yourself running away from the truth, think of Oedipus. It might just change the way you handle your own reality.

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The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

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How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.