No longer figurative
Sophocles’ Tiresias is the very archetype of the blind seer.
Tiresias was blinded by a goddess – either Hera, who allegedly blinded him after he agreed with Zeus’ argument that women gain more joy from sex, or Athena after he saw her naked in the bath. Greek mythology is no more thought out than Chris Carter’s X Files mythology.
In Sophocles’ ‘Oedipus Rex’, Tiresias plays the role of emphasising the blindness of those who, while sighted, yet fail to see. Oedipus calls upon the blind seer’s wisdom, but Tiresias, though he claims to possess the information required, refuses to answer, for he is tired of having knowledge of things that cause only pain to those who claim to want to know. Inevitably, he does give Oedipus the answer he seeks and, as predicted, it causes nothing but terrible pain. Jocasta, Oedipus’ mother and wife, commits suicide and Oedipus plucks out his own eyes for failing to see what he should. It is no wonder that Freud choose this myth as the foundation for much of his psychology.
As much as the X Files has to tell us about life, it does often show itself to be a product of its time, which it cannot help but do. As much as it is story which often explores the nature of story, it is prone to the weaknesses of 20th Century TV. As oblique as it often could be, it occasionally falls into the trap of literalising its metaphors.
It does this with Marty Glenn in ‘Mind’s Eye’. In doing so, it diminishes the power of the metaphor. Whereas Tiresias is an archetypal character, Marty is purely selfish. Yes, she is worthy of Mulder’s admiration, for she struggles and, finally, deals with a most horrendous torture, but it is literally human rather than metaphorically human. As such, it is lacking in impact upon its audience.
Those who encounter Tiresias must recognize that blindness is not purely physical. Oedipus is wise – he solved the riddle of the Sphinx which rescued Thebes from her curse. Yet he could not save himself from his fate. He lacked, as we all do, the insight, the ability to see that which is too close and personal, too hurtful to be acknowledged. As such, he becomes a lesson to us all. Marty serves no such purpose. She sees only what is relevant to her – she is Tiresias wrapped up in himself.
Don’t get me wrong. ‘Mind’s Eye’ is an excellent episode of the X Files. Lili Taylor fully deserved her 1998 Emmy nomination for her performance. The existential horror of her predicament is beyond comprehension. Unfortunately, the very quality that makes her such an interesting character limits her metaphorical power. Unless you are of a mind with the selfishness of the modern world.
There is inspiration to be had from Marty. She is an individual who must deal with incredible hardship and she pulls through, she achieves a sort of triumph. We can gain heart from this story if we see ourselves as so individual that there truly is no one out there upon whom we can depend and turn to in times of trouble. It is likely, however, that anyone in a predicament akin to this isn’t likely to take succor from an episode of the X Files. Tiresias wrapped up in himself has little to offer those who might seek his wisdom.
It is why we have so few great people in the world today. Albert Einstein wrote a couple of papers which changed the way we understand the Universe. Yet he inspires people in so many different ways. Rightly or wrongly, that most famous of Einstein quotes, “ God does not play dice with the universe,” inspires both Atheists and Christians alike. Now that is greatness!
CNN does its best to bring the marvelous work of incredible people to the awareness of the masses. As magnificent as these people are, they do not inspire beyond their own domain. If they do, it is in the same way Marty does.
For so long I thought Aung San Suu Kyi a person of worth, a person willing to take up the struggle of her people, a person willing to sacrifice to the cause. Recent events, now that she has a version of power, seem to show her as less than deserving of her iconic status.
The problem with Marty is that it is Mulder who inspires us in her story. As he is so capable of doing, Mulder recognizes a woman harshly treated by a male dominated world. He showed this side to his character in Season Three’s ‘Oubliette’ and does so again in Season Six’s ‘Terms of Endearment’.
Tiresias wrapped up in himself might play to the selfishness of the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries, but not to those who might come 2400 years from now. Imagine doing something today, like Sophocles, that will have people paying attention twenty-four centuries from now. We have lost the ability to make an impact on our world. We no longer have blind seers, we have only the blind.
Tiresias was blinded by a goddess – either Hera, who allegedly blinded him after he agreed with Zeus’ argument that women gain more joy from sex, or Athena after he saw her naked in the bath. Greek mythology is no more thought out than Chris Carter’s X Files mythology.
In Sophocles’ ‘Oedipus Rex’, Tiresias plays the role of emphasising the blindness of those who, while sighted, yet fail to see. Oedipus calls upon the blind seer’s wisdom, but Tiresias, though he claims to possess the information required, refuses to answer, for he is tired of having knowledge of things that cause only pain to those who claim to want to know. Inevitably, he does give Oedipus the answer he seeks and, as predicted, it causes nothing but terrible pain. Jocasta, Oedipus’ mother and wife, commits suicide and Oedipus plucks out his own eyes for failing to see what he should. It is no wonder that Freud choose this myth as the foundation for much of his psychology.
As much as the X Files has to tell us about life, it does often show itself to be a product of its time, which it cannot help but do. As much as it is story which often explores the nature of story, it is prone to the weaknesses of 20th Century TV. As oblique as it often could be, it occasionally falls into the trap of literalising its metaphors.
It does this with Marty Glenn in ‘Mind’s Eye’. In doing so, it diminishes the power of the metaphor. Whereas Tiresias is an archetypal character, Marty is purely selfish. Yes, she is worthy of Mulder’s admiration, for she struggles and, finally, deals with a most horrendous torture, but it is literally human rather than metaphorically human. As such, it is lacking in impact upon its audience.
Those who encounter Tiresias must recognize that blindness is not purely physical. Oedipus is wise – he solved the riddle of the Sphinx which rescued Thebes from her curse. Yet he could not save himself from his fate. He lacked, as we all do, the insight, the ability to see that which is too close and personal, too hurtful to be acknowledged. As such, he becomes a lesson to us all. Marty serves no such purpose. She sees only what is relevant to her – she is Tiresias wrapped up in himself.
Don’t get me wrong. ‘Mind’s Eye’ is an excellent episode of the X Files. Lili Taylor fully deserved her 1998 Emmy nomination for her performance. The existential horror of her predicament is beyond comprehension. Unfortunately, the very quality that makes her such an interesting character limits her metaphorical power. Unless you are of a mind with the selfishness of the modern world.
There is inspiration to be had from Marty. She is an individual who must deal with incredible hardship and she pulls through, she achieves a sort of triumph. We can gain heart from this story if we see ourselves as so individual that there truly is no one out there upon whom we can depend and turn to in times of trouble. It is likely, however, that anyone in a predicament akin to this isn’t likely to take succor from an episode of the X Files. Tiresias wrapped up in himself has little to offer those who might seek his wisdom.
It is why we have so few great people in the world today. Albert Einstein wrote a couple of papers which changed the way we understand the Universe. Yet he inspires people in so many different ways. Rightly or wrongly, that most famous of Einstein quotes, “ God does not play dice with the universe,” inspires both Atheists and Christians alike. Now that is greatness!
CNN does its best to bring the marvelous work of incredible people to the awareness of the masses. As magnificent as these people are, they do not inspire beyond their own domain. If they do, it is in the same way Marty does.
For so long I thought Aung San Suu Kyi a person of worth, a person willing to take up the struggle of her people, a person willing to sacrifice to the cause. Recent events, now that she has a version of power, seem to show her as less than deserving of her iconic status.
The problem with Marty is that it is Mulder who inspires us in her story. As he is so capable of doing, Mulder recognizes a woman harshly treated by a male dominated world. He showed this side to his character in Season Three’s ‘Oubliette’ and does so again in Season Six’s ‘Terms of Endearment’.
Tiresias wrapped up in himself might play to the selfishness of the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries, but not to those who might come 2400 years from now. Imagine doing something today, like Sophocles, that will have people paying attention twenty-four centuries from now. We have lost the ability to make an impact on our world. We no longer have blind seers, we have only the blind.
Comments
Post a Comment