Honors Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Capstone/Thesis
Faculty Advisor
Thesis Director: Mr. Jay Arns; Thesis Reader: Dr. Thomas Strunk; Thesis Reader: Dr. Timothy Quinn; HAB Course Director: Dr. Thomas Strunk
Date
2019-4
Abstract
Sight in the ancient world is best understood through Greek tragedy and philosophy. There is a certain duality of sight that is present in tragedy – physical and metaphysical. Physical sight is represented through “vision” and “sight” itself. Metaphysical sight is represented through “knowing” and “understanding”. Physical and metaphysical sight do not necessarily need each other, but the combination of the two results in higher wisdom, something that is sought by one of the most prominent figures in Greek tragedy, Oedipus. In fact, Oedipus Tyrannus, Heracles, and Prometheus Bound best exemplify the duality of sight in tragedy. The seers in Greek tragedy also provide a means for the audience to visibly see a connection of the duality.
Recommended Citation
Barlow, Emma, "“I See” Said the Blind Man; “I Know” Said Oedipus: An Analysis of Physical and Metaphysical Sight through Greek Tragedy and Philosophy" (2019). Honors Bachelor of Arts. 38.
https://www.exhibit.xavier.edu/hab/38
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Included in
Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons, Ancient Philosophy Commons, Classical Archaeology and Art History Commons, Classical Literature and Philology Commons, Other Classics Commons
