Similarities And Differences Between Oedipus And Jocasta

The first piece of evidence that should have led Jocasta to realize that Oedipus was her son was Oedipus’s limp; she knew that his feet were pinned when she gave him to a shepherd, and when a new mysterious man showed up to her kingdom with a limp that could have been caused by pinned feet, it was her responsibility to do more background research on this man before marrying him. The story of Oedipus’s birth is slowly revealed throughout the play: Jocasta recalls that her first husband, Laius, had received a prophecy that “doom would strike him at the hands of his son” (Sophocles 787), so Laius “fastened his ankles” (Sophocles 792) and

Oedipus didn’t change over the course of the text. He starts off single- minded and determined to find the murderer of King Laius until he realizes he was the actual killer of his father King Laius, his father. Oedipus asked, Creon who is the brother of his wife Jocasta “Send me out to live away from Thebes” (Sophocles 1711-1712). He was more concerned about what the people will think of him

Oedipus’ inner blindness led to him remaining a static character throughout the story because he never really went through any major personality changes like Jocasta. He remained selfish, prideful, and temperamental

As the play continues, we start to see a shift in Oedipus’s personality. This was due to the conclusion he makes based on the conversation him and the prophet Tiresias has. It mentions how Kreon, Oedipus brother-in-law, is plotting against him. “So? You come here? You have the nerve to face me in my own house? When you’re exposed as its master’s murderer? Caught trying to steal my kinship?” (Sophocles 500). Now, Oedipus is arrogant, he blames Kreon based off of the conclusion he jumps too. He gets discouraged from his role as a leader, he is irrational, angry and hot tempered, whereas, in the beginning,

The first difference I found between Theseus and Oedipus was the way they ruled their subjects. I feel Theseus abided by a more structured way of ruling, as he was more logical and calculated when he made decisions concerning his community. He believed that everything he was doing was for the best of his subjects. While he was kind and showed true concern for his people, he still ruled his throne with an iron fist. He believed in the concept of logic and law, even taking in Oedipus when he stumbles along the city of Athens looking for refuge from his sins. Theseus proved that he could be a just ruler as he brought all of the inhabitants of his country together through purposeful words and bright ideas. At times I feel Theseus can be seen as manipulative in his actions. I don’t feel Theseus is necessarily manipulative in nature, but he does have the capabilities to use these persuasive speeches for personal gain if he wanted to, and this can make him a dangerous individual. On the other hand Oedipus was well known for his compassionate ruling and loving actions towards his people. He is selfless in his actions and seeks to provide his people with the best future he can offer them. He puts his peoples needs before his own without a second thought. “My poor children…my heart is sadder than yours, for I do not mourn this one or that one, but the entire city. I have brooded over your distress and cast about for some cure” (235-236). I believe this statement lends credit towards how Oedipus is often ruled by his emotions. One of Oedipus’s main downfalls is that he lets his emotions take over his rational thinking. An example of this detrimental behavior is when Oedipus attacks his own father in blind fury and unknowingly completes the first part of the prophecy. Where Oedipus is ruled by emotion, Theseus is ruled by logic. Being ruled by either spectrum of thought can be catastrophic as an emotional ruler can easily be pushed around by their subjects and criticized for their faults, a ruler led by logic would stand by their actions not seeing the fault in their decisions because they believe they know what is best for their subjects.

Most seems to enjoy tight casting female characters through two tropes: either the damsel in distress waiting for her knight in shining armor to save her, or a tough, power-indulged witch who's only concern is herself. Very few times (and by even fewer male authors) will a female character be written as a medium between the two extremes. This problem has been occurring for centuries almost, even being found in literature dating back to B.C., with Penelope from Homer's The Odyssey and Jocasta from Sophocles Oedipus Rex : Penelope being written as the damsel with hundreds of suitors vying for her attention, all while desperately weaving and waiting day in and day out for her true love to come home; Jocasta as this harsh women who only wants to be around when everything is working to her advantage. Then there's Antigone, who stands up for her morals against Thebes without so much as batting an eye. 　　 The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus, ruler of Ithaca who has been lost out at sea for the past 20 years after the Trojan war.

Another reason Oedipus' is a more commendable character than Hamlet is because of the differences in the way they treat the women they love. Oedipus is clearly in love with Jocasta, showing it by treating her well and respecting her opinion on things. Hamlet decides to act like someone who is crazy, and disrespects Ophelia even going as far as to talk bad to her. He even tells her he never loved her. "I loved you not." (116)

Characters in books are always in a constant state of change. They change emotions, feelings, physical features, and most of all, they change thoughts. In the first two texts of The Oedipus Cycle, almost all of the characters had at least one of these changes happen to them. The character that changed the most in all of these categories was Oedipus. All of the things that happened in the stories to Oedipus caused great change in his physical appearance and in his personality. Overall, the book would not be the same if these changes hadn’t occurred.

While both Creon and Oedipus have feelings of remorse, Oedipus displays a higher degree of contrition as a result of his hamartia, his thanatos and the impact that family and secondary characters have towards his anagnorisis.

Finding out who his true father is seems important for someone who has just been told he will kill his father. Nor is Oedipus particularly intelligent about the way he conducts himself. Even though he did not know that Laius and Jocasta were his parents, he still does kill a man old enough to be his father and marry a woman old enough to be his mother. One would think that a man with as disturbing a prophesy over his head as Oedipus would be very careful about who he married or killed. Blindly he pursues the truth when others warn him not to; although he has already fulfilled the prophesy, he does not know it, and if he left well enough alone, he could continue to live in blissful ignorance. But instead he stubbornly and foolishly rummages through his past until he discovers the awful truth. In this way, Jocasta 's death and his blindness are his own fault.

When we first look at the story of Oedipus, we see Oedipus as a noble character who just wants to do good in order to save his town, and ultimately finds out about his truth and heritage, and his own evils. Jokasta initially leaves

Oedipus is the cause, albeit indirectly, of Jocasta’s death. He did not obey her warning. She knew the nature of their incestuous relationship and exhorted him against speaking to the messenger and shepherd; the truth would ultimately threaten their marriage. Her problem was not with the misdeed - it was with Oedipus’ awareness, for she assured him, “”Have no

Although he is clever man, he is blind to the truth. Even though he did not know that Laius and Jocasta are his parents, He still kills a man old enough to be his father and marry a woman old enough to be his mother. One would think that a man with a disturbing prophesy over his head as Oedipus should be very careful about whom he marries or kills. The fact that a tragic hero is not perfect evokes both pity and fear. Oedipus although being a good father, husband, and son, he unwillingly destroys his parents, wife and children. Oedipus is human, regardless of his pride, his intelligence or his stubbornness and the audience recognize his humanity in his agonizing reaction to his sin. Watching this, the audience certainly moved to both pity and fear, pity for this broken man and fear that his tragedy can be their own.

I chose to reflect off of Oedipus the King because of the characters and the elements of drama. Jocasta, Oedipus, and Tiresias were the main characters that pulled me into having interest in this play. I enjoyed Jocasta because during that time period, women did not have much say in society. I felt as if she was a figure for women starting to develop a role in society, which is the type of person I hope to be in the future. I also was amazed that she realized who Oedipus was, but she wanted to protect him from finding out the truth in himself. This showed how much she cared for him, and how even though his fate had already been decided, she tried to find ways to change it. I was drawn by Oedipus because he was the protagonist and the antagonist of the story, which is not normal to find in other stories. He was known as being innocent and a great ruler, to eventually cursing the city. It showed how easy it is to go from one type of person to another. The main character that shocked me the most was the prophet, Tiresias. I never read a story and play that has a prophet in it, so I felt as if I learned something new. Tiresias was a “blind prophet,” yet he was the one in the society who had knowledge from the Gods

Oedipus’ attitude toward Jocasta in death – is it the same as in life? This essay will answer the previous question and many other questions regarding women in Oedipus Rex.