This I knew well but had forgotten it else I would not have come here Symbol of Personal Transformation Oedipus blinds himself when he realizes he has committed the forbidden act He also believes that it is better to live in darkness and blindness rather than to see a terrible truth and live He feels guilt and shame for his previous activities He blinds himself as a form of punishment for his crimes Thus Oedipus's self-blindness symbolizes his transformation and redemption Oedipus says Why should I have eyes when there was nothing sweet for me to see Spiritual Redemption To rectify himself Oedipus blinds his two eyes with the pins from Jocasta's clothing He announces himself as a cursed man in Thebes In the play's final scene Oedipus says I did not know what I was doing But now that I do I will suffer for it Why should I see whose sight has brought me pain Oedipus realizes that he has been blind to the truth of his own life and believes that his physical blindness is necessary to achieve spiritual redemption He describes that blindness will help him to open his inner eyes and to get redemption in the court of justice Besides Oedipus blinds himself because he cannot see the truth though he has two clear eyes and is ignorant of God's prophecy In termination we can say Oedipus' self-blinding is a dramatic climax to the play It points to the tragic consequences of pride and the limitations of human knowledge