Alan Howard (Teiresias) and Ralph Fiennes (Oedipus) in Jonathan Kent's 2008 production of Oedipus. Classical sources differ on the details of Teiresias’ transformation into a woman, a blind man, and a prophet but in all versions the transformations are inflicted, not borne of any aptitude or insight. Teiresias endures the typical reversals of classical mythology: for seeing what he should not (Athena bathing naked) he is blinded; consequently he is an ironic and peevish character, not a tragic one.