Oedipus Rex: The Blinding and the Purification of Knowledge

* Students read the final scene of Oedipus Rex (lines 1300–end), including Jocasta’s death, Oedipus’s blinding, and his request for exile.
* We studied catharsis, the idea that tragedy purifies the emotions through pity and fear.
* Students discussed how Oedipus’s suffering leads to insight and humility, not just punishment.
* Class conversation centered on whether Oedipus’s final act shows defeat, repentance, or redemption.
* We compared the Oedipus at the beginning of the play to the Oedipus at the end(proud vs. humbled, blind vs. truly seeing).