Intelligence vs. Wisdom: Anna Troy

Oedipus is intelligent and deftly uses this intelligence to reason, however, his lack of wisdom is what inevitably leads to his downfall. Oedipus’ keen intelligence is proven through his ability to solve the riddle of the Sphinx at Corinth. Being that he was the only person able to solve this riddle he was revered as a savior and crowned king of Corinth. This display of intellect gives him of such esteem that he’s almost comparable to the gods. The chorus exclaims, “Now, I do not hold you equal to the gods, nor do these children who sit at your hearth, but we judge you the first of men both in the ordinary chances of life and in the contingencies of the divine.” (Sophocles 34) Although he utilises his intelligence to solve riddles and later on in the play to unravel the mystery of Laius’ killer, he lacks another important trait, which is wisdom. He seems to only look at the events of his life solely through a logical point of view, and seldom reflects upon his own actions or the advice given to him by others. This inability to have insight into the cause of his actions is what ends up being the demise of his power. Although in the end, it seems that insight replaces his power when all he has left is himself, a blind man, who cannot see, and thus must look within.

As Oedipus uses deductive reasoning to investigate the murder of Laius, he calls upon the opinions of others to find the truth behind the killing. Tiresias a blind man, who has the gift of prophecy, is held highly for his knowledge when the chorus says, “I know that my lord Tiresias most always sees the same as my lord Apollo; from  him one investigating this might learn the wisest things.”(Sophocles 292) However when he speaks the truth of Laius’ killer, Oedipus is too angry and suspicious to believe his words. He lacks the ability to look at his own actions even when they are being blatantly pointed out to him. A wiser Oedipus would have listened to the words of others and instead of instantly becoming defensive and accusatory, he would have contemplated this evidence more thoroughly. He denies and relevancy to Tiresias’ claims and says, “the trusted Creon, my friend from the beginning, beguiles me and secretly desires to oust me, engaging this craftily-working wizard, this tricky beggar, who sees clearly only for profit, but is blind when it comes to skill.” (Sophocles 400)