2. Write a comment on this post about lines 770-1031. Some possible prompts:
A. What kind of person does Jocasta, Oedipus's wife, seem to be? Can you comme up with three adjectives to describe her? Explain.
B. Can you notice a connection between this story and the story of Perseus, a connection regarding prophecy? (Once someone gets this one, don't use this prompt.)
C. In the encounter with the stranger whom Oedipus kills (962-976), what evidence is therethat Oedipus' character determines his fate?
D. (by the time you get to line 1031) Why does Jocasta think that Oedipus can't be the killer of Laius? what piece of evidence gives hope that he was not the killer of Laius?
d) Jocasta thinks that oedipus could not be the killer for the reason that apollo said that Laius would be killed by an infant born from Jocasta, another piece of evidence is that Laius was supposedly killed by a group of bandits and Oedipus is only one man. So that doesnt add up.
ReplyDeletei would also like to say that fate is becoming a HUGE matter in this story. When a character comes back after consulting with Apollo they bring back essensially their fate. Also it seems that people know what is pre determined.
-Audrey Emerson
There is a very obvious connection between the story of perseus and this section of Oedipus. In perseus, the king learns from a prophesy that he will be killed by his daughters son, thus he proceeds to do all that he can to prevent this from happening, such as shutting his daughter away in an in-ground, barred room with a skylight. Similarly, In Oedipus, Laius learns from a prophesy that he is to be killed by the son of he and Jocasta, and thus does what he can to avoid such a predicament, such as ordering the murder of their child. In both stories, because in Mythology fate is unavoidable, the kings are killed, and both in incredibly unlikely sircumstances, Perseus kills his father with a discus accidently during a game, Laius is killed simply by passing by Oedipus on the road, and being rude. We have yet to learn if the prophesy in Oedipus is true, but based on the huge role of unchangeable fate in mythology, I predict we will learn that Oedipus is Laius's son.
ReplyDeleteD. By the end of the passage we read tonight Jocasta is convinced that Oedipus did not kill Laius. This is because Laius was killed by a group of thieves according to the only surviving witness. Even though Oedipus did kill a man he was acting alone and not with a team. If the servant had been truthful this would mean that Laius was not killed by Oedipus and that Oedipus could continue ruling his kingdom. At the end of the section we read tonight the servant who witnessed Laius' death was being called to testify his previous statement.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Jocasta is a very calm and serene person who is a very good listener. This is what I understood from her personality in the text. Also, like Audrey said before, fate really is becoming such a huge part of this story. Jocasta even mentioned the word fate when she was telling the story of King Laius. She states "Laius was fated to be killed". I find it very interesting how large fate is in every story, whether it is in the Bible, the Mythology book, or in Oedipus the King. I find this is a huge comparison between the three. (maybe a good topic for a monday paper!)
ReplyDeleteI have read
ReplyDelete-Audrey Emerson
C: I think that Oedipus the King in a way determines the mans fate because while reading, you read that he encounters a man, and that man tries to lead him off his path, and right there you can tell that Oedipus is going to do something to him. Also because if you see a man usually he doesn't do anything, he just helps you, so the man also sort of led himself into his own fate. Another obvious reason how Oedipus determined the man's fate because that man might have been sent out there, because he was old, to get killed by Oedipus, and Oedipus was more of an assist. So i guess you could say that maybe he didn't actually determine it, he just more helped.
ReplyDeleteA. 3 adjectives that describe Oedipus's wife, Jocasta, are wise, caring, and thoughtful. I chose to call her wise because after Oedipus explains the situation between himself and Creon she says, "Listen to me, and ease your mind with this- no human being has skill in prophecy." And then she goes on to give an example with a story about KInd Lauis. Jocasta is caring because she is really listeing to both Oedipus and Creon and asking them questions like, "why is your spirt so troubled?" and, "What is worrying you?" She also gives imput on both sides of the arguement which proves that she is being thoughtful about this situation and not automatically putting all of her trust in her husband or her brother. She agrees with Creon that he is innocent and tells Oedipus to let him go free, But she also tells Oedipus about a servant that could help his case. I think that Jocasta apears very calm and she equally distributes her wisdom and kindness to both sides of the arguement, which shows thoughtfullness and wisdom in handling the situation.
ReplyDelete-Erin Moody
D.)
ReplyDeleteJocasta believes that Oedipus cannot be the killer for a few sussinct reasons. Firstly the child who was born by Jocasta and the late king Lauis. This seems to be an impossibility because the king had the child's feet bound together and was thrown off of a cliff. Moreover, the servant had originally said that a group of bandits attacked the king with only him escaping; as long as that eyewitness accont stays the same then Oedipus is seemingly in the clear. However, another reason I believe that Jocasta doesn't believe that Oedipus is the killer is because no one would want to believe that their husband of whom they've grown to love and trust is really their son who killed his father then unwittingly had incestuous relations with his mother.
-Ashley RObillard
Jacosta is oridinarilly a calm and thoughtful person, however starting in line 770, Jacosta experiences a slight change of character by confronting Oedipus and Creon by telling them that they are foolish for fighting over such things when a kingdom under Oedipus's control is in danger. This brings me to the third adjective to describe her, Wise. She is wise for speaking out against both of the men, however she may not be strong enough to carry on her mindful thinking. If she was infact strong, Oedipus and Creon would have taken her word and ended their private argument.
ReplyDeleteOedipus's wide, Jacosta is even tempered, understanding and dominant in her relationship with Oedipus. When Jacosta goes into detail about what happened when Laius was killed, she is helping out her husband in a major way because if he did not know the complete story he would not have been able to make any accusations about him self or the servant. Another trait she has is being calm. When Oedipus is discovering that he may have been the one who killed Laius, although she admitted to have been shaking, she remains even tempered, making the situation not as bad as it could have been. Lastly, I think that she is a very dominant character, not just in her marriage but also in the relationship with her brother. When Creon and Oedipus are arguing, she enters the castle/stage by saying : You foolish men, why are you arguing
ReplyDeletein such a silly way? With our land so sick,
are you not ashamed to start a private fight?
You, Oedipus, go in the house, and you,
Creon, return to yours. Why blow up
a trivial matter into something huge?
When I read this part of the play, I was surprised at was a presence she was and how nonchalantly she disciplined not just her brother but her husband as well. I am used to the king being the one who just agrees to what the King wants but in Oedipus, she is obviously very bold and overpowering.
In the story, Jocasta, Oedipus's wife, could be described as sensible, loyal, and composed. Throughout the passage, Jocasta keeps a leveled head and hears both sides of the arguements being made by Creon and Oedipus, giving her a sensible aspect to her personality. Also, the support she shows to both men shows loyalty, since she isn't (openly) siding with either man. Lastly, Jocasta shows her composed side while she seemed to be a bit bothered by the bickering of both men, she ultimately never broke her composure and hears both sides of the dispute.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Nahshon, Audrey and Madeline on how Jocasta is thoughtful and faithful unlike a lot of the others. She separates herself from Oedipus's pivotal actions, and shows a load of allegiance and tranquility towards Creon & Oedipus as she has her exchange of words with the two. She doesn't pick sides with either of them, and doesn't make the mistake of telling them who's right and who's wrong. She has different views of both of their words and disputations.
ReplyDeleteD) There is strong proof that Oedipus didn't kill Laius, because of the fact that he was described as being killed by "a group of men". This wouldn't work unless the story was exaggerated. Also, Jocasta argues that "Apollo clearly said the man would die
ReplyDeleteat the hands of an infant born from me.
Now, how did that unhappy son of ours
kill Laius, when he’d perished long before"
but Jocasta never specifies that she physically *saw* her son die. So what if her son survived? The story of Oedipus is very similar to a soap opera. There are so many plot twists that it gives it a kind of corny, yet quaint feel.
A. In this scene Jocasta is very manipulative, but in a peacemaking way. She uses her connections with Creon, and Oedipus to not exactly make them see eye to eye, but she did break up their fight, which probably wouldn’t have happened if it was anyone else but Jocasta. Jocasta is also like a puppitier to her puppet Oediups in this scene. You can tell she has a certain power over him that most wives have over their husbands. "JOCASTA: In this quarrel what was said? Tell me. OEDIPUS: Creon claims that I’m the murder that I killed Laius." Without any hold, or delay Oedipus answers his wife and goes on describing everything that happened in the fight between him, and her brother, Creon. Jocasta is also very helpful in this scene. She first breaks up a fight between the two people that she loves much dearly, then comforts her husband from the argument, and lastly gives her husband, Oedipus information about the event that caused the death of Laius to give a hand to Oedipus on figure out the riddle of if he killed the previous king or not.
ReplyDeleteI will write about some other observation I have seen, if that's okay, Mr. Durning, because I agree with all everyone has said about the four prompts, and if I add on, it'll be repetitive. :)
ReplyDeleteI thought it was quite ironic how fate plays such a crucial role in this story of Oedipus, but one person looks at it as a hoax, that person being Jocasta, the queen of Oedipus. Line 851, she claims, " No human being has skill in prophecy." Also, she says in lines 871-873: "So don’t concern yourself with prophecies, whatever gods intend to bring about, they themselves make known quite easily." When Oedipus told her the story of how he murdered Laius, she seemed to be hesistating a little, because she did not instantly respond back to him, but when he said there might be hope, and explained his small luck, she persuaded again that oracles are untrue. From her actions, Jocasta seems to actually agree a little bit with Oedipus' fate and the oracle, but she doesn't want to believe that it's true, so she keeps denying it with such boldness.
a)
ReplyDeleteTo me, Jocasta seems the only sensible one in the story so far, in a way that she thinks before she speaks and truly wants to know whats going on so she can handle it. She also seems like a really good listener, and everything Oedipus is saying to her, she really is interested and wants to know more. She really takes in everything he says. To me, she is also very wise, because she knows what to say to Oedipus to make him calm down and to help him solve this problem he has with Creon. She is really calm and relaxed while talking to Oedipus, which may make him relax and calm down too. -Lara