Oedipus the King is based solely around one conflict: who murdered King Laius. In trying to figure this out‚ many truths are revealed about both Oedipus and Jocasta. Tiresias‚ the blind prophet‚ is the first to tell Oedipus that it was he who killed Laius‚ his real father‚ and married Jocasta‚ his real mother. Of course‚ neither Oedipus nor Jocasta believe this‚ until more pieces start to fall into place. First‚ Jocasta’s description of Laius’s death matched up almost perfectly with Oedipus’s encounter
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Though a dutiful queen and protective‚ loving mother‚ Queen Jocasta is not simply the innocent victim of misunderstanding‚ for it becomes clear that she in fact knows the truth of Oedipus’ life and their union together. After hearing the prophecy about her child‚ Jocasta hands away her only son to be deserted in the mountains‚ believing her difficult choice would protect her baby from a life of fear and suffering. This means she would know about his feet being maimed. Furthermore‚ in a time when
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Oedipus shows concern for his foster mother‚ Merope. He still believes that Polybus and Merope are his birth parents. As a result Oedipus is afraid to be close to Merope because of the oracle’s prediction that Oedipus would become his mother’s lover. Jocasta replies to Oedipus’ concerns by saying‚ (line 1070) “What should a man fear? It’s all chance‚ chance rules our lives. Not a man on earth can see a day ahead‚ groping through the dark. Better to live at random best we can. And as for this marriage
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unaware that Tiresias is telling the truth‚ he believes that Tiresias is spouting lies in his anger. Moreover‚ Sophocles’ use of dramatic irony emphasizes Oedipus’ ignorance. Oedipus is unaware of his own identity. For instance‚ Oedipus reveals to Jocasta that he killed a man but is uncertain whether or not that man is Laius. Oedipus asserts‚ “Why‚ several bandits in your account‚ he claimed‚ cut down the King. If he will keep to several‚ I‚ as only one‚ am not the killer‚ not the same‚” (Oedipus.
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lives Antigone is a daughter of the marriage between King Oedipus of Thebes and his mother Jocasta. She is the subject of a popular story in which she attempts to secure a burial for her brother Polynices‚ even though he is seen as a traitor to Thebes and the law forbids even mourning for him‚ punishable by death. The burial of Polynices takes place during Oedipus’ reign in Thebes‚ before Oedipus marries Jocasta. Sophocles’ tragedies Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone‚ it occurs in the years after Oedipus’
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views on fate‚ prophecy‚ and the power of the gods. Characters like the chorus and the leader have solid beliefs in the gods and prophecy‚ but their faith is shaken many times and is changed based on the events that happen. Other characters like Jocasta refuse to accept the prophecies as truth. Towards the end of the play‚ however‚ all have no hesitation in their minds that the power of the gods and prophecies are valid. Everything that was foretold becomes true‚ extinguishing any doubt and maddening
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could not have had a different ending than it does‚ because the personality of Oedipus has showed that the truth could never be hidden‚ the situation has not given anyone to correct what has been wrong‚ the fear of Laius and Jocasta has determined the outcome‚ and Oedipus and Jocasta have believed what they are told instead of knowing the whole story. First of all‚ Oedipus as a hero who has save the country from the beast Sphinx‚ he himself is a brave and kindly person
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plague. Creon returns to tell Oedipus that the god Apollo knows who murdered Lauis. Oedipus gets angry and tells the Chorus that he will end the plague himself. Oedipus is convinced that his friend Creon has betrayed him. So therefore his wife Jocasta convinces him not to kill Creon. She tries to convince her husband that Creon is innocent. As proof‚ she offers the fact that the Delphic oracle told Laius he would be murdered by his son‚ while actually his son was cast out of Thebes as a baby and
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fortunate. The play “Oedipus Rex” by Sophocles demonstrates that this concept of free will and fate would lead to Oedipus’s downfall. Oedipus learns of his fate and immediately tries to prevent it; even his parents did the same. The actions Oedipus‚ Jocasta‚ and Laios took actually fulfilled the prophecy the Oracle told them. The fact that Oedipus tried to avoid his prophecy‚ he falls right into it. Sophocles illuminates that Oedipus’s pride‚ ignorance‚ arrogance and disbelief in the gods‚ and unrelenting
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prison. Oedipus and Jocasta would have to suffer the severe legal repercussions. Although the legal ramifications for Jocasta and Oedipus’s incest would be severe‚ Oedipus’s punishment for murdering the king and his men would be far worse. The punishment for killing a monarch‚ or a political leader in this modern case‚ would certainly warrant a life sentence in prison if not worse. Next‚ the social repercussions for such an act would be socially devastating for Oedipus‚ Jocasta‚ and their children
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