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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 5 page essay that discusses the role of Jocasta in Oedipus Rex. The writer argues that Sophocles uses his characterization of Jocasta, Oedipus' wife/mother, to underscore the principal themes of the play. Jocasta is a powerful maternal figure in the saga, representing ancient Greek values that defined fealty to the family as one of the highest virtues. While Jocasta appears on stage in only a few scenes, her behavior underscores the depth of the sin committed not only by Oedipus, but also by his biological father Laius. No additional sources cited.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khjocrex.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
representing ancient Greek values that defined fealty to the family as one of the highest virtues. While Jocasta appears on stage in only a few scenes, her behavior underscores the
depth of the sin committed not only by Oedipus, but also by his biological father Laius. Jocasta is established, first of all, as a peacemaker. She intervenes in the
quarrel between Oedipus and Creon and rebukes both men for arguing in public, as she persuades them to address their differences rationally. As this illustrates, Jocasta is a strong
woman with an independent mind, but also a woman who values family connections. As Creon is her brother, she seeks reconciliation between him and her husband. The context of the
scene leads Jocasta to recount a story that she believes to be true. She tells of how Laius, the previous ruler and Jocastas first husband, was told by the Oracle
that he would be murdered by their son. It was Laius who first heard this awful prediction, which caused him to condemn his newborn child, a healthy baby boy, to
death by exposure. Jocasta remembers, "Nor did three days succeed the infants birth,/Before, by other hands, he cast him forth,/Maiming his ankles, on a lonely hill" (lines 744-756). While it
is true that Greek culture allowed infanticide via death by exposure, this custom was typically reserved for girls and babies with birth defects. This was a healthy son. Decades have
passed and Jocastas grief is still quite evident. It is clear that she still mourns for that first child. Jocastas point in telling the story is that the Oracles prediction
was wrong as Laius did not die by the hand of his son, but rather was murdered by a robber band. However, by introducing this part of the story,
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