1. Pride and Denial: Oedipus is a proud and strong-willed individual. He has a high opinion of himself and his abilities, and he finds it hard to accept that he could have committed such heinous acts as killing his father and marrying his mother. As a result, he dismisses Teiresias' words as lies or fabrications.
2. Blindness Metaphor: Oedipus has been figuratively blind to the truth about himself throughout the play. He has ignored or overlooked clues and prophecies that hinted at his tragic fate. Therefore, when Teiresias confronts him with the truth directly, Oedipus struggles to accept it because it shatters his constructed reality.
3. Influence of Creon: Creon, Oedipus' brother-in-law, had previously accused Teiresias of being in cahoots with Oedipus to overthrow him. Oedipus believes Creon may have influenced Teiresias to make false accusations against him.
4. Teiresias's Alleged Blindness: Teiresias is blind, and in ancient Greek society, blindness was sometimes associated with a lack of wisdom or credibility. Oedipus questions whether Teiresias is truly gifted with foresight or if he is simply making baseless claims.
5. Desire to Protect Himself: Accepting Teiresias' revelation would mean acknowledging his guilt and facing the consequences of his actions. Oedipus is not emotionally prepared for this realization, so he chooses to doubt and reject it.
As the play unfolds, Oedipus gradually confronts the truth and comes to accept his tragic fate. However, his initial doubt and denial are understandable given the magnitude of the revelation and the impact it would have on his life and reputation.