Tiresias, The Theban Seer

In Greek mythology, Tiresias, also transliterated as Teiresias is the prophet who represents the gods and the son of the shepherd Everes and the nymph Chariclo. Though he is the seer, the one who is given prophecies through the birds, he is ironically a blind man. He gives his foresights to other people , so that people can choose a correct path of life or somehow can prevent themselves from disasters, sent by gods. Tiresias once articulated in Antigone that, he is the seer and that it is his duty to guide the 'blind' who is being referred to Creon.
There are many opinions on how Tiresias becomes blinded, as he is not a blind since born. Some say that Tiresias is blinded by the gods because he discloses their secrets to mortal men. Others saying that Athena blinds the young Tiresias by covering his eyes with her hands when he surprised her naked. Later, not being able to undo the damage, Athena cleanses instead his ears that she causes him to understand the sounds of birds. Athena also gives Tiresias a staff made of cornel-wood and with it, he could walk like those who can see.
It is also said that the old laws of Cronos that has inflicted the penalty of blindness on any mortal who beheld an immortal without consent. Later, he is granted the power to utter oracles, to understand the birds, to live a long life, and after his death, to keep his understanding among the dead. Besides that, Tiresias is also said to be cursed and transformed into woman for seven long years. But, later he has transformed back into a man.
Through his life, he plays big roles both in Oedipus, The King and also Antigone. He is the one who reveals all the secrets lie across the hidden truth. He is the one who makes the revelation that Oedipus is the murderer of his own father, Laius and he also advises the later King of Thebes, Creon not to decide for himself of other people's fate as it is in Gods' power and that his decree will only bring him harm.
Now, the figure of Tiresias has been much depicted by fiction writers and poets in their poems, novels and plays. This is because Tiresias as both the greatest seer of the Classical mythos, a figure cursed by the gods, and both man and woman is seen as very useful to the authors.

It was a delightfully unforgetable day, or maybe to be precise, an unforgetable night as on last Thursday night, I experienced the first living theatre. Hmm..after all theatre is absolutely alive and immediate as both are the characteristics of theatre!The theatre that I went for was Puteri Gunung Ledang, The Musical and it was staged in The Palace of Culture, Kuala Lumpur. I was very happy that I went to watch the theatre as it was brilliantly and superbly performed that the best simple word to comment on it is FANTASTIC! Going to the staged theatre for the first time was really one of the best experiences I had in my life and it certainly gave a whole lot knowledge and experience to me.
Puteri Gunung Ledang, The Musical or PGLM was a play which was performed in both Malay and Javanese language and as it was a musical theatre, the actors and actresses were all singing beautifully composed songs and dancing gracefully. The brilliantly sung songs had portrayed not only the mood of the play, but it also depicted the play itself. Besides the main actors and actresses, there was also the chorus on the stage. They were singing and dancing to narrate the love story between Hang Tuah and Majapahit Princess. Reflecting to what I had learnt, the chorus also plays role as the society of that time.
I also felt amazed at the setting of the stage. With the same moveable prop, they used it as the Gunung Ledang itself, waterfalls and Majapahit palace. The stage was also a moveable one. When the stage was raised, it suggested a higher place or inside a palace. In the 2 hours and a half, we have 15 minutes break and during that time, the stage had been transformed to a new setting for the second part of the play which was in Malacca. If during the play. the stage was set in Majapahit, the culture depicted was the Javanese society, with all the Javanese language being used, costumes, songs and dances, but in the second part of the play, the setting was set in Malacca, all together with new environment. Both of these settings were clearly and obviously portrayed that it seemed as if I had been transported to the place and time. From what I had noticed, white clothes were also used to indicate that the time was passing and the spotlight was always focused to the main characters.
It was amazing how their performance can give so much pleasure to the audience! When the theatre ended, everyone clapped so loud, not only because we were all enjoying and satisfied with the performance, but also it was to give the message to the performers that they did it superbly! Hope to watch pglm again and today,my friends and I have booked places to watch again and perhaps later, I can post more blogs on pglm!