Episode 1 and stasimon 1 of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles: When Tiresias refuses to speak, how is the reaction of Oedipus characteristic of him?

teachsuccess

Whenrefuses to speak, 's reaction is characteristic of his exaggerated sense of
self-importance.

As king, Oedipus is accustomed to abject or servile behavior
from his subordinates. To Oedipus, Tiresias's favored position as a prophet does not release him
of his responsibilities toward his king.

What Oedipus expects is immediate
compliance on Tiresias's part. However, Tiresias refuses to accommodate Oedipus. He is reluctant
to tell the proud, vengeful king the truth. For his part, Tiresias cannot be certain that
Oedipus will accept the truththat he, Oedipus, killed his father and is fully responsible for
the curse Thebes is undergracefully.

Consider Oedipus' words to
Tiresias:

What then, thou knowest, and yet willst not
speak!
Wouldst thou betray us and destroy the State?

Monster! thy
silence would incense a flint.
Will nothing loose thy tongue? Can nothing melt
thee,
Or shake thy dogged taciturnity?

And who could stay his choler
when he heard
How insolently thou dost flout...

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