Jocasta Essays

characters, a woman called; Jocasta. It has to be noted that even though the play is a fictionalized version, it is something that has its roots in historic documents as well. With regards to many of the scholars who have been studying ancient Greek history, it has been noted that Jocasta was living in a time that was perhaps two or three generations before the Trojan War. She is mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey as the mother of Oedipus. Furthermore, in Homer’s Odyssey play, Jocasta is called Epicaste and

accidentally fulfilling a cursed prophecy, committing patricide, and marrying his mother consequently causing him to gouge his own eyes out. However few are aware of the whole story, let alone what secrets lie beyond the royal family of Thebes. Queen Jocasta bore a smile wider than the Mesopotamian Valley when she discovered she had been blessed with a child after bearing no fertility until this day. Juxtaposing her pure and utter delight, King Laius remained wary of this “blessing” with sorrow still

Oedipus was born the oracle of Delphi prophesied that the child born to King Laius and Jocasta will kill his own father and will marry his mother. In an attempt to fight fate King Lais decides that to protect himself he must kill their own son in an attempt to defy date. Laius binds baby Oedipus ankles with a small pin and abandoned

taught that silence would save us, but it won't.” In Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, the character Jocasta (Oedipus’s mom and wife) is put in a tragic situation where she has no say. The book conveys the tragedy from the mans point of view, and one is left to assume the views that Jocasta has. In Ruth Eisenberg’s poem Jocasta, she narrates the story of Oedipus through the eyes of Jocasta. Jocasta discusses her feelings toward situations in depth. This style is not found in Oedipus Rex. The poem

Jocasta In the literature “King Oedipus” by Sophocles, the author introduces readers to a character called Jocasta who plays an important role in the text. Jocasta Queen of Thebes is an independent, nice woman who follows more her free will than her faith which gives her power. She is the ideal woman in Thebes for the people in her kingdom. In the play the Jocasta commits suicide before Oedipus finds out who his real parents are. “Attendant: “First, and in brief- Her Majesty is dead”

anti-prophecy Jocasta speaks with Oedipus about a prophecy that never came true, she informs, “Laius was fated to die by the hand of his son (...) Well, Laius, so the story goes, was killed by foreign robbers at a place where three highways meet” (41). Jocasta uses the word “fated” which insinuates the absence of choice and a predetermined existence. When using the word “fate” in reference to a prophecy of the Gods Jocasta implies that the words of the Gods are predetermined and unavoidable. Jocasta also

In her poem, “Jocasta” published in the 1960s, human rights activist Ruth Eisenberg emphasizes how women were constantly suppressed and deemed inferior to men. She supports this claim by using Queen Jocasta and King Lauis as stand-ins that represent the stereotypical societal roles of men and women, during the 1960s, while also utilizing metaphors and aggressive diction. Eisenberg’s purpose is to highlight the awful treatment of women and the abuse of power by men. Throughout her poem, Eisenberg

Jocasta As A Modern Hero In the Sophocles play Oedipus Rex, or Oedipus the King, one assumes the main character is Oedipus. However, this tragic king is not the most important character in the play. Jocasta, his wife and mother, is the most significant person throughout the series of the tragedy. Without her, many of the major events would not have occurred. Some may call her the hero. What kind of hero is Jocasta? Out of an epic hero, a tragic hero, or a modern hero, she is most connected to a

Oedipus Rex is a great example of an Aristotelian Tragedy because it follows each and every rule that Aristotle put in place, making in a cohesive and well known story. The first part of an Aristotelian Tragedy must be about a serious subject. Oedipus starts out as a quest to find and prosecute the Late King Laos's murder. Once a few insights into Oedipus's entangled past, it is ultimately a story about Oedipus uncovering his past, compared to Jocasta's. This is serious because the audience learns

king, Oedipus Rex needs someone or people who is powerful to control him. Therefore, there are Jocasta and Creon who is raised by Sophocles to fill that position. Both of these characters have a significant position in the story. So that I do believe that the position of Jocasta and Creon influence and control the Oedipus. The first character who also have important position in the play is Jocasta. Jocasta is Oedipus ' mother and his wife. In the beginning, she represents as the most prompt casualty

3. Jocasta told Oedipus that his “father” was dead but he wanted to hear it from the messenger himself, he died from illness and old age according to the messenger • Jocasta predicted it a long time ago but Oedipus was misguided by his fears and Jocasta said that he shouldn’t keep on filling up his heart with all these things. • Jocasta says that it is true that in their dreams a lot of men have slept with their own mothers, but someone who ignores all this bears life more easily. • Oedipus is still

with Oedipus’s wife Jocasta. Before the play begins King Laius and his wife Queen Jocasta are given a prophecy that their child will kill his father and marry his mother. Jocasta and Laius then try to avoid the prophecy. And so they send their child to be killed. It is clear that Laius does this out of fear and in order to protect his life. However, Jocasta does this not out of fear for her husband's life but out of fear of what will happen to her if he is killed. If he does Jocasta would have nothing

illusion of oracles and their prophecies. Jocasta tries to escape her fate but ends up walking straight into it. The shattering of Jocasta’s illusion caused her to commit suicide after finding out the truth. Sophocles uses Jocasta’s suicide to show that people have no control over their fate. Jocasta believes that oracles are just humans and are susceptible to flaws. Jocasta believes that the prophecies can be changed based on the choices humans make. Jocasta tries to persuade Oedipus that oracles

that he is cause of Thebes plague. Oedipus responds by saying Tiresias is plotting treason with Creon. But, Jocasta stands up for Creon, Likewise, Oedipus agrees to banish him as he exits.

After, Oedipus complains to Jocasta about Creon. Jocasta tries to calm down Oedipus by telling him that prophecies can be false. Then, Jocasta tells Oedipus what happened to Laius. Oedipus then feels dread. Meanwhile, Oedipus tells Jocasta about the oracle and that he killed men at the crossroads and it sounds very similar to Laius’s death. Oedipus fears and assumes that he killed Laius. As a result, Oedipus agrees with Jocasta to wait and hear Shepherd’s testimony because of

negative consequences; on the other hand, ignorance allows only for satisfied peace. Sophocles’s play, Oedipus Rex, addresses the idea of blissful ignorance as the preferred state of mind. Not only this, the play, through the trials of Teiresias and Jocasta, reflects upon how one’s naivety and inattention to the truth ensures a carefree and peaceful life. Teiresias, contrary to everyone else in his time, deeply feels the effects of knowledge and the sorrow it ultimately brings. Ironically, the blind

entirety but is specifically effective when Jocasta talks about the oracles, her feelings about it, and how Oedipus reacts towards it.     In the section of the play where Oedipus is furious at the fact that Tiresias, an oracle, tells him that he is the murderer of King Laius, Jocasta enters the scene in an attempt to comfort him. Jocasta tries to convince Oedipus that whatever the oracle tells him is just a ruse. She mentions how the fate an oracle foresaw in

herald from Corinth arrives and tells Jocasta about Polybus’ death. Likewise, corinthians want Oedipus to be their king because they believe Polybus is Oedipus’ father. Oedipus finds out Polybus being dead and he didn’t kill him. Oedipus still fears the prophecy because of Meropi still being around. The Herald tells Oedipus that Polybus and Meropi are not his actual parents. He then testifies to Oedipus’ identity because He knows of Oedipus’ infant life. Jocasta feels horror and dread because of what

by expressing passion and dedication throughout the act. The video is in black and white, which adds to the overall character due to the era and the story. “Night Journey”, is Graham’s dance interpretation of day when King Oedipus and his Queen Jocasta discover their relationship is far more complicated than just husband and wife. The city of Thebes had come down with a plaque of sorts and elders were convinced it was brought on by the curse of the previous king, who was murdered. Oedipus, the

to the fact that one of the men was King Laius, who he will later learn was his father. Although the very poor and cruel decisions that Oedipus and Jocasta make ultimately lead them to their fate, they were blind to the extent of most of their decisions. Once Oedipus and Jocasta learn that they are mother and son, they are both mortified. Jocasta commits suicide because she is so ashamed of her decisions. Oedipus uses Jocasta’s pins to gouge his eyes out. Oedipus decides to do this so that he