Essay on Jocasta in Oedipus the King - 653 Words

The Role of Jocasta in Oedipus the King Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. nbsp;(James 1:12) nbsp;Such is the proclamation in the Holy Bible, and so was the proclamation in ancient Greece. Since the founding of religion, the gods have sought to test those with power. Jocasta was sent by Apollo to do just that: to test Oedipus - the king of Thebes - faith and conviction. Throughout the play, Jocasta tested the beliefs of those around her by feigning disbelief in the gods herself. Though she put up this false front, she did keep her faith. At the beginning of the scene wherein a messenger relayed word of†¦show more content†¦Jocasta proceeds to plant doubts of the gods by telling Oedipus the story of the Delphian Oracle and the circumstances surrounding Laius death. Again, after Polybus death, she excitedly tells Oedipus that his prophecy was obviously untrue, though it wasnt, and by doing so she attempts to hint that the oracles - and thus the gods - are false. By planting this doubt in Oedipus mind, the gods are able to test his faith, and his ruling power, through Jocasta - a test which he fails until it is too late. Why, then, would Jocasta be forced to perform such a dubious task for the gods? It is because she tried to avoid an earlier prophecy. By tying her childs feet together and casting him out, she attempted to defeat the gods, and this of course angered them. Her punishment, then, was to test the beliefs of the very child she cast out. nbsp; Oedipus Rex was Sophocles attempt to show the Greeks that they could not avoid the dealings of the gods, or they may be forced to conspire against the very people they should love most. Jocasta was, in this way, a victim. Though it was by her own doing that this penalty was cast upon her, it was not something she was happy to do, which becomes apparent when she realizes the truth in her earlier prophecy. It is at this moment that she becomes aware of her punishment, and in desperation kills herself. Oedipus Rex is a true tragedy in the sense that fate andShow MoreRelated Comparing Female Characters in Euripides Medea and Sophocles Oedipus the King and Antigone1555 Words   |  7 PagesComparing Female Characters in Euripides Medea and Sophocles Oedipus the King and Antigone      Ã‚  Ã‚   In the times of the ancient Greeks, women had an unpretentious role. They were expected to do take on the accepted role of a woman.   In most cases, a womans role is restricted to bearing young, raising children, and housework. 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