llenged.Indirect references are made throughout the scene by Teiresias. Allusion is an effective literary tool in "Oedipus Rex," for it reveals the unwillingness of the prophet to play part in the unravelling of Oedipus. Teiresias never refers to Oedipus by name, only refers to him indirectly:The man you have been looking for all this time,The damned man, the murderer of Laios,The man is in Thebes. To your mind he is foreign-born,But it will soon be shown that he is a Theban,A revelation that will fail to please.(42.69-76)Teiresias speaks in riddles, always hinting at the involvement of Oedipus. The use of allusion is clear to the reader/audience, but Oedipus is reeling from piecing the hints together. This is ironic, for Oedipus is proud of his accomplishment of deciphering the riddle of the Sphinx. Irony is present, for now it is his own fate that he must solve.Scene II in "Oedipus Rex" involves an element of unpredictability. As Oedipus sends for the clairvoyant, the reader expects a mystical moment of truth. Instead we are presented with a stubborn character, evasive in dispelling the secret of his vision. In this scene it becomes a match of egos as Teiresias and Oedipus spar over the possession of information. The reader realizes that it is Teiresias that has control, and that Oedipus is struggling to keep his wits. This turn of events is unpredictable, for moments earlier in the scene, Oedipus asserted his perceived authority. Teiresias, a blind seer proves to be dominant over the leader of Thebes.In Scene II, the reader is presented with an array of events. The prophet Teiresias becomes the nucleus of the scene. It is through this medium that we are able to view the frailties of the character of Oedipus. Teiresias gives insight into the ill fate that awaits Oedipus. Foreshadowing is the main theme of this scene, which sets the tone for the rest of "Oedipus Rex." The dramatic elements of the interaction between Teire...
