Throughout Oedipus the King, Oedipus refers to Jocasta for advice. The advice that he seeks resembles a relationship between a son and a mother. Oftentimes, a child succumbs to their parents in effort to receive advice or information. Jocasta shows the amount of wisdom that a mother possesses and shares this with Oedipus. Although Jocasta is his wife, Oedipus is ironically the son of Jocasta. This complex relationship ultimately evinces itself by the end of the story.
Jocasta reveals that she is wise and dependable as Oedipus oftentimes asks her for help in understanding or making a decision. In a time of discomfort and disbelief, Jocasta informs Oedipus that “even if [Teiresias] diverges from what he said then, he shall never prove that the murder of Laius squares rightly with the prophecy” (985-989). This shows Jocasta’s ability to serve as Oedipus’ mother and wife. Jocasta’s buoyancy of characterization presents Oedipus opportunities to seek advice and love her. Even though Oedipus is initially unaware of Jocasta being his mother, he gravitates to her for counsel. Jocasta ironically reveals her relationship with Oedipus as she says, “I am terrified when I look at you” (864-865). This may be because Oedipus is actually her son, even though they marry each other.
The political cartoon represents a two-headed being that has two different roles in society. It resembles the irony in Oedipus the King in that Jocasta is actually the wife and mother of Oedipus. This relationship manifests through the plot of the story. Jocasta is very influential on Oedipus as a mother and wife, but exemplifies her qualities of a mother in the character of his wife. 
“even if [Teiresias] diverges from what he said then, he shall never prove that the murder of Laius squares rightly with the prophecy” (985-989). This quote that you took from Jocasta not only shows her ability to be a wife and a mother, but also irony. Jocasta is so confident that the prophecy is broken because she believes Oedipus is not her son. The audience knows though, that she is indeed the mother of Oedipus. Going into further detail about how it shows her ability to be a wife and mother, she presents it by trying to reassure Oedipus and to make him stop worrying so much, something a good wife and mom would do for their husband and son.
ReplyDeleteIt is ironic how much Oedipus confides in Jocosta. Although it is common for a husband to confide in his wife, this level is deeper. The way he depends on her for support is much likes child would depend on his mother.
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