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What role do Laius and Jocasta play in Oedipus' tragedy in 'Oedipus Rex'?
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∙ 12y ago
Victim and consenting adult are the roles played by Laius and Jocasta in Oedipus' tragedy in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta accept the widespread ancient Greek notion that it is far better for a defenseless baby to be killed than to grow up and possibly fulfill a dreadful prophecy of killing one's father and king and marrying one's mother. Oedipus survives and as an adult kills an older version of himself and marries a woman old enough to be his mother. Laius thereby becomes Oedipus' victim and Jocasta his consenting partner in marriage and albeit unknowingly to incest.
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∙ 12y ago
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Does the messenger tell Oedipus of his father's death before or after Oedipus asked Jocasta for the details of Laius' death in 'Oedipus Rex'?
It is after Oedipus asks for details of Laius' death that the messenger tells Oedipus of his father's death in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus finds out that he must solve King Laius' murder in order for the pestilence to end in Thebes. He looks for information from Queen Jocasta, his wife and Laius' widow. Jocasta provides details on the where, when and how of Laius' death. These details in the first half of the play raise questions that begin to be answered in the second half. For example, the Corinthian messenger supplies information about the death of Corinthian King Polybus, Oedipus' presumed father.
How old is Jocasta in 'Oedipus Rex'?
No information is given other than that she is Oedipus' mother in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus is the son of Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta. In ancient Greece, members of the royal household get engaged early on and may marry young. Jocasta therefore may be as young as 12-15 when she marries her cousin Laius. So by the time of the play's action, Jocasta's age likely ranges from the early to mid fifties in comparison to the early to mid forties for Oedipus, her son and second husband.
When the play Oedipus rex begins does Oedipus marry jocasta?
no
Who hands the infant Oedipus over to the shepherd to be exposed in the play 'Oedipus Rex'?
Jocasta hands the infant Oedipus over to the shepherd to be exposed in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta receive a prophecy that their son will grow up to kill his father. Laius therefore makes it clear that Jocasta must kill her three-day-old infant son Oedipus. Jocasta does not want to disobey her husband, but also does not want to carry out the deed herself. She therefore asks her most trusted servant, a Theban shepherd, to leave Oedipus exposed to the ravaging weather and scrounging wildlife on the mountains outside Thebes.
Is Oedipus a tyrant in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Yes, Oedipus is a tyrant in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the original title of the play is "OedipusTyrannus" in Greek. According to the ancient Greeks, a tyrant seizes power by illegal means. Oedipus becomes King of Thebes by killing Laius, his royal predecessor and own father, and by marrying Jocasta, Laius' widow and Oedipus' mother. Both actions that lead to his kingship are illegal.
Does the messenger tell Oedipus of his father's death before or after Oedipus asked Jocasta for the details of Laius' death in 'Oedipus Rex'?
It is after Oedipus asks for details of Laius' death that the messenger tells Oedipus of his father's death in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus finds out that he must solve King Laius' murder in order for the pestilence to end in Thebes. He looks for information from Queen Jocasta, his wife and Laius' widow. Jocasta provides details on the where, when and how of Laius' death. These details in the first half of the play raise questions that begin to be answered in the second half. For example, the Corinthian messenger supplies information about the death of Corinthian King Polybus, Oedipus' presumed father.
How old is Jocasta in 'Oedipus Rex'?
No information is given other than that she is Oedipus' mother in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus is the son of Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta. In ancient Greece, members of the royal household get engaged early on and may marry young. Jocasta therefore may be as young as 12-15 when she marries her cousin Laius. So by the time of the play's action, Jocasta's age likely ranges from the early to mid fifties in comparison to the early to mid forties for Oedipus, her son and second husband.
When the play Oedipus rex begins does Oedipus marry jocasta?
no
Who hands the infant Oedipus over to the shepherd to be exposed in the play 'Oedipus Rex'?
Jocasta hands the infant Oedipus over to the shepherd to be exposed in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta receive a prophecy that their son will grow up to kill his father. Laius therefore makes it clear that Jocasta must kill her three-day-old infant son Oedipus. Jocasta does not want to disobey her husband, but also does not want to carry out the deed herself. She therefore asks her most trusted servant, a Theban shepherd, to leave Oedipus exposed to the ravaging weather and scrounging wildlife on the mountains outside Thebes.
How does swollen foot relate to the play Oedipus?
Oedipus comes from that he was left in the mountains with his ankles pinned together. Jocasta explains that Laius abandoned him in this state on a barren mountain shortly after he was born. The injury leaves Oedipus with a scar for the rest of his life. It symbolizes the way his movements have been confined and constrained since birth, by Apollo's prophecy to Laius.
When does Oedipus see that what is said is what happens in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Just after he is of Jocasta's true relationship to him and just before he finds Jocasta's body and blinds himself is the point at which Oedipus sees that what is said happens in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus ends up trying to solve two mysteries at once: the killing of his royal predecessor, Theban King Laius; and the identity of his biological parents. Before the action of the play, he directs his actions towards keeping from taking place a dreadful prophecy of him killing his father and marrying his mother. He learns from the Corinthian messenger that he is not Corinthian King Polybus' son and from the Theban shepherd that he is Laius' killer and Jocasta's son. Laius is the first husband of Jocasta, and the two therefore are his parents.
Is Oedipus a tyrant in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Yes, Oedipus is a tyrant in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the original title of the play is "OedipusTyrannus" in Greek. According to the ancient Greeks, a tyrant seizes power by illegal means. Oedipus becomes King of Thebes by killing Laius, his royal predecessor and own father, and by marrying Jocasta, Laius' widow and Oedipus' mother. Both actions that lead to his kingship are illegal.
Who is Antigone's mother?
Antigone's mother was Jocasta, wife of Oedipus, who was Antigone's father. The play Oedipus Rex, in which Antigone is a non-speaking character, describes the relationship of Jocasta and Oedipus - unbeknownst to them, Jocasta was actually Oedipus' mother in addition to his wife. When they learn this, Jocasta kills herself and Oedipus blinds himself.
Who is Antigone's mother?
Antigone's mother was Jocasta, wife of Oedipus, who was Antigone's father. The play Oedipus Rex, in which Antigone is a non-speaking character, describes the relationship of Jocasta and Oedipus - unbeknownst to them, Jocasta was actually Oedipus' mother in addition to his wife. When they learn this, Jocasta kills herself and Oedipus blinds himself.
What god speaks to Laius in 'Oedipus Rex'?
No god speaks to Laius in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Laius does not appear physically in the play. He is mentioned because his murder is unsolved and causes a pestilence to descend upon his hometown of Thebes. The audience knows little about Laius other than that he receives a dreadful prophecy and is killed by his only son with his wife, Queen Jocasta.
Why did Oedipus use the brooch to kill himself in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Theban King Oedipus does not kill himself with a brooch or with anything else in the play "Oedipus Rex."Instead, it is Theban Queen Jocasta who kills herself. She commits suicide once she realizes that her beloved second husband Oedipus is none other than her son from her first marriage with Theban King Laius. When Oedipus finds Jocasta dead, he takes the brooches from her robes and stabs himself in both eyes.But Oedipus' actual, natural death is not covered until the subsequent play "Oedipus at Colonus."
Does Oedipus marry his mother in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Yes, Theban King Oedipus marries his own mother in the play "Oedipus Rex."Specifically, Oedipus is the son of Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta. Oedipus grows up thinking that his foster parents, King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth, are his biological parents. As an adult, he leaves Corinth, kills an arrogant elderly man on the way to Thebes and marries the King's widow ... his own mother Jocasta.
