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That she believes some prophecies to be inaccurate is the reason why Jocasta dismisses the oracle's prophecy in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta offers the example of an upsetting prophecy that her child with her first husband, King Laius, will grow up to kill his father. Jocasta hands the three-day-old infant Oedipus over to her most trusted servant for killing by exposure to weather and wildlife on the mountains outside Thebes. She believes her son to be dead and points out that Laius dies years later at the murderous hands of robbers in the neighboring land of Phocis. She therefore assumes that this is a case of a mistaken prophet and an equally mistaken prophecy.

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Q: Why does Jocasta dismiss the oracle's prophecy in 'Oedipus Rex'?
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What argument does Jocasta use to persuade Oedipus to ignore soothsayers and oracles in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That two men do not die in the way described by the prophecies is the argument that Jocasta uses to persuade Oedipus to ignore soothsayers and oracles in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, a prophecy warns that Theban King Laius will be killed by his own son. But Theban Queen Jocasta, Laius' widow and Oedipus' wife, points out that her first husband dies at the hands of strangers and robbers in Phocis. Then she brings up Corinthian King Polybus, who also is supposed to die at the hands of his son, Oedipus. But once again, Jocasta points out that the Corinthian monarch dies of illness and old age.


How does Jocasta attempt to set Oedipus mind at rest concerning the prophecy in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is by saying that not all prophecies come true that Jocasta attempts to set Oedipus' mind at ease in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus fears a prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. His wife, Queen Jocasta, insists that oracles and prophets are not as skilled as gods and the Furies of fate in terms of predictions. She maintains that not all prophecies come true. She offers the example of her first husband, King Laius, dying unpredictably at the hands of robbers rather than predictably at the hands of his own son.


What is the oracle's prophecy in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother is the oracle's prophecy in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Delphic oracle is the best known and most widely respected oracle in all of ancient Greece. The play includes other prophecies, but not by oracles. For example, Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta hear a prophecy of their son growing up to kill his father, but it is not from an oracle.


Why is it ironic that Jocasta burns incense to the gods in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That she disrespects the gods and that her request already is being processed but that she will dislike the results are reasons why it is ironic that Jocasta burns incense to the gods in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta burns incense and offers a garland as sacrifices to Apollo the god of prophecy. But she disrespects him by interfering with her first husband King Laius' prophecy and by disparaging oracles and prophets. She makes the request that Oedipus leave the past behind and that the pestilence be ended soon. The requests will be granted, but she is going to dislike the way in which each is realized.


What is Jocasta's image in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Conciliatory but dismissive and escapist is Jocasta's image in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta demonstrates conciliation when she tries to find common ground in the fight between her second husband King Oedipus and her brother Creon. She exhibits dismissiveness when she speaks of oracles, predictions and prophets. She expresses escapism when she veers away from anything that may be necessary but unpleasant to know.

Related questions

What are the argument and the resolution of Oedipus' and Jocasta's argument about oracles in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That they may not be true but they in fact are is the respective argument and resolution of Oedipus' and Jocasta's argument about oracles in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus is worried about the Delphic oracle's prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. His wife, Queen Jocasta, mentions that oracles and prophets are not gods and therefore make mistakes. The royal couple thinks that the issue is resolved with the example of the inaccurate prophecy about King Laius' death by his own son and the evidence of Oedipus' presumed father King Polybus' death from illness and old age. But the resolution turns out to be that Laius is killed by his biological son Oedipus, who is Polybus' adopted or foster son.


What does Jocasta have to say about oracles and prophecy?

Jocasta believed that prophets are not Gods and can make mistakes. She believes no human has the skill to be prophets.


What argument does Jocasta use to persuade Oedipus to ignore soothsayers and oracles in 'Oedipus Rex?

That two men do not die in the way described by the prophecies is the argument that Jocasta uses to persuade Oedipus to ignore soothsayers and oracles in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, a prophecy warns that Theban King Laius will be killed by his own son. But Theban Queen Jocasta, Laius' widow and Oedipus' wife, points out that her first husband dies at the hands of strangers and robbers in Phocis. Then she brings up Corinthian King Polybus, who also is supposed to die at the hands of his son, Oedipus. But once again, Jocasta points out that the Corinthian monarch dies of illness and old age.


What argument does Jocasta use to persuade Oedipus to ignore soothsayers and oracles in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That two men do not die in the way described by the prophecies is the argument that Jocasta uses to persuade Oedipus to ignore soothsayers and oracles in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, a prophecy warns that Theban King Laius will be killed by his own son. But Theban Queen Jocasta, Laius' widow and Oedipus' wife, points out that her first husband dies at the hands of strangers and robbers in Phocis. Then she brings up Corinthian King Polybus, who also is supposed to die at the hands of his son, Oedipus. But once again, Jocasta points out that the Corinthian monarch dies of illness and old age.


How does Jocasta attempt to set Oedipus mind at rest concerning the prophecy in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is by saying that not all prophecies come true that Jocasta attempts to set Oedipus' mind at ease in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus fears a prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. His wife, Queen Jocasta, insists that oracles and prophets are not as skilled as gods and the Furies of fate in terms of predictions. She maintains that not all prophecies come true. She offers the example of her first husband, King Laius, dying unpredictably at the hands of robbers rather than predictably at the hands of his own son.


What is the oracle's prophecy in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother is the oracle's prophecy in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Delphic oracle is the best known and most widely respected oracle in all of ancient Greece. The play includes other prophecies, but not by oracles. For example, Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta hear a prophecy of their son growing up to kill his father, but it is not from an oracle.


Why is it ironic that Jocasta burns incense to the gods in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That she disrespects the gods and that her request already is being processed but that she will dislike the results are reasons why it is ironic that Jocasta burns incense to the gods in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta burns incense and offers a garland as sacrifices to Apollo the god of prophecy. But she disrespects him by interfering with her first husband King Laius' prophecy and by disparaging oracles and prophets. She makes the request that Oedipus leave the past behind and that the pestilence be ended soon. The requests will be granted, but she is going to dislike the way in which each is realized.


What is Jocasta's image in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Conciliatory but dismissive and escapist is Jocasta's image in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta demonstrates conciliation when she tries to find common ground in the fight between her second husband King Oedipus and her brother Creon. She exhibits dismissiveness when she speaks of oracles, predictions and prophets. She expresses escapism when she veers away from anything that may be necessary but unpleasant to know.


Did the Delphic oracles come true or did Oedipus kill his mother in 'Oedipus Rex'?

The Delphic Oracles came true, and Theban King Oedipus didn't kill his own mother, Theban Queen Jocasta. It was predicted that Oedipus would become a killer of his own father and a sex offender with his own mother. Albeit unknowingly, he indeed killed his father, Theban King Laius. Albeit unknowingly once again, he wedded and bedded his own mother. Years later, when Jocasta realized the true identity of her second husband, she killed herself.


What is the infant Oedipus handed over to the shepherd in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That Laius wants the three-day-old Oedipus dead and that Jocasta loves her husband but not enough to do the killing herself are the reasons why the infant Oedipus is handed over to the shepherd in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta are told that their son will grow up to kill his father. All good royals in ancient Greece consult, but do not necessarily cooperate with, the predictions of oracles and prophets. Laius therefore demands that Jocasta kill the three-day-old infant Oedipus. Jocasta cannot disobey her beloved husband, but cannot bear to do the murderous deed herself. She in turn asks her most trusted servant, a Theban shepherd, to leave Oedipus on a mountainside and at the mercy of ravaging weather and foraging wildlife.


Does Jocasta say that an oracle comes to Laius in 'Oedipus Rex'?

No, Jocasta does not say that an oracle comes to Laius in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, oracles do not travel around ancient Greece. Instead, they live in shrines dedicated to Apollo the sun god. They accept visitors who come from all over ancient Greece to hear their divinely inspired prophecies.


Who tells the prophecy of Oedipus?

Oracles tell the two prophecies of subsequent Theban King Oedipus. In the first case, the Oracle tells Theban King Laius and Queen Jocasta that any son of theirs will grow up to kill his own father and sovereign. These are offenses not to be taken lightly.In the second case, the Delphic Oracle tells the grown-up Oedipus that he will marry his own mother. This likewise is an offense not to be taken lightly. It's only the gods that can engage in mother-son incest, to get the world of gods and mortals started.