Light and Darkness Found Within the Gospel of John and in Sophocles' Drama
Antigone
As a child, my world was enraptured by the wonderful Fisher-Price toy
known as the Lite-Brite. By inserting multicolored little pegs into their
corresponding slots on a detailed guide, I could transform drab, dull, and dark
pieces of paper into wondrous works of brilliant art. The light that filled and
transformed the plastic pegs closely parallel concepts of light and darkness
found within the Gospel of John and in Sophocles' drama Antigone. The Gospel of
John focuses on the profound meaning of the life of Jesus, whom he saw as the
manifestation of God's Word (logos). Teiresias, of Sophocles' play Antigone, is
a blind prophet whose lack of vision does not prevent him from recognizing the
truth. The words of John and the characterization of Sophocles, although
similar in many aspects, differ in the extent to which their concepts of light
and darkness affect humanity. Sophocles' light, in the form of Teiresias,
allows truth to permeate throughout one's lifetime. John's light, as the
manifesta tion ofthe logos, presents truth and enlightenment to humanity, but
also ensures a glorified and joyous afterlife through Christ's salvation.
Teiresias, the voice of fate and harbinger of truth in Sophocles' play
Antigone, humbly enters the drama by addressing the malevolent Creon and stating
that he "must walk by another's steps and see with another's eyes" (Antigone,
102). The wise prophet was metaphorically declaring that he delivered the
message of a higher truth. This truth existed as Natural Law. Teiresias advised
his mon ...