Similarities Between Jocasta And Oedipus

The famous play “Oedipus The King” written by Sophocles a Greek Tragedian is a perfect example of predestinarianism, the belief that whatever is to happen is already fixed and cannot be avoided. This is very strongly supported by the story as multiple prophecies stated that Laius would be killed by his own son, and Oedipus will marry his own mother. Each one of these prophecies led to each others fulfillments. When Oedipus was born the oracle of Delphi prophesied that the child born to King Laius and Jocasta will kill his own father and will marry his mother. In an attempt to fight fate King Lais decides that to protect himself he must kill their own son in an attempt to defy date. Laius binds baby Oedipus ankles with a small pin and abandoned

After solving the Sphinx’s riddle Oedipus unknowingly marries the now widowed Jocasta which fulfills the second part of the prophecy. A few years after these events is when the prophecy finally comes to light to have been completed and both Oedipus and Jocasta learn the truth about each other. It all begins when Teiresias a prophet reveals to Oedipus “You are the cursed polluter of this land.” This greatly angers Oedipus as he believes that he has done no harm and has done nothing to anger Apollo. “It is not for me to bring you down, that is in Apollo’s hands and he will do it.” Here we can see another example of Oedipus’ cursed fate.

During the quarrel between Oedipus and Creon, Jocasta jumps in and claims that Teiresias is wrong in the fact that she has defied the prophecy and fate itself. “I’ll prove this quickly with one incident. It was foretold to Laius-i shall not say by phoebus himself, but by his ministers- that when his fate arrived he would be killed by a son who would be born to him and me. And yet, so it is told, foreign robbers murdered him, at a place where three roads meet. As for the child i bore him, not three days passed before he yoked the ball-joints of its feet, then cast it, by others’ hands, on a trackless