Like many ancient peoples, the Greeks valued honor above all things. It follows that the tragic ending to Oedipus should be riddled with last-ditch attempts at preserving one's honor. Sure enough, both the protagonist and his wife (mother!) close out the story with a dramatic display of decorum.
Jocasta, for her part, realizes the truth before her son and husband. "You're doomed--" yells Jocasta in her final moments, just before fleeing, "May you never fathom who you are!" (1173-1174). She runs from the scene, and these lines convey her desperation. She is before long found hanging in her bedchamber, unable to cope with the life she has made for herself.
Rather than continue on as wife and mother of the same man--a man she once tried to kill--Jocasta takes her own life, thereby salvaging the shreds of dignity she still possesses. This action shows that she, as a typical Greek, values honor and reputation more than her own life.
Similarly, no sooner does Oedipus find Jocasta's body than he takes the pins from her robes and stabs his own eyes out, crying, "'You, you'll see no more the pain I suffered, all the pain I caused!'" (1405-1406). As Oedipus has been "blind" to the truth through the play, it is fitting that he should disable his eyesight so gruesomely. A true Greek tragic hero, he gives himself a punishment worthy of his crime.
Both Oedipus and Jocasta attempt to right things in the end by delivering to themselves fates of which they think they are deserving. In doing so these two protagonists display characteristics of tragic heroes and personify true ancient Greek culture and beliefs regarding honor.
Towards the beginning of this play, Oedipus’s honor was overpowered by his pride. He was much too focused on his kingship rather than realizing the trouble he has caused. After becoming aware of the wrongdoings she has enacted, Jocasta hangs herself in order to conserve the remaining honor she contains, and you make that very clear in your blog. Oedipus blinds himself so that he feels a sense of balance for the crime he has accomplished - he has enough honor to punish himself for the sins he has committed.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree they are trying to give themselves punishments fitting their crimes, I don't believe they hold any honor left at this point. Honor in my opinion is acts of selflessness in order to preserve ones morals. Both acts, suicide and eye gouging did nothing selfless. Jocasta's death only drove Oedipus more mad, and his eye gouging was still a questionable punishment to the gods. In my eyes, (not Oedipus') tragedies hold no honor, only the sudden loss of it.
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