When one does a word search in the text Oedipus Rex they will find the word ‘truth’ is used eleven times throughout its entirety, upon reading the aforementioned text a realization is met that the term is used ironically and satirically. While Oedipus enjoys his lavish lifestyle handed to him through the murder of his biological father he finds that he can not rest until the murderer of the former King is found. All the while Oedipus never realizes that he himself is the culprit. The irony of the blind prophet who can ‘see’ more than Oedipus is that many people choose to see the truth that is most convenient for them, in essence all people are blind in some way even if they are able to ‘see’. Samuel Butler once said “"A blind man knows he cannot see and he that is blind in his understanding, which is the worst blindness of all, believes he sees as the best, and scorns a guide.” This quote relates to Oedipus’ inability to believe the words of the blind prophet despite all the facts pointing to the conclusion of Oedipus killing his own father. Oedipus’ desire to bend the truth to his own will reflects how his reality was contingent only on his own perceptions rather than truth.
