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That she believes her son to be dead is the reason why Jocasta never has a reason for examining Oedipus' ankles to know if he is or is not her son in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta arranges for her three-day-old son Oedipus to be killed by her most trusted servant. She believes in the servant and therefore does no follow-up. Years later, she marries a younger man who has scarred, swollen ankles and a shuffling gait. She never relates the presumed dead infant of the injured ankles with the presumed Corinthian royal of the similarly wounded ankles.

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Q: Why does Jocasta not examine Oedipus' ankles to know whether or not he is her son in 'Oedipus Rex'?
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What are Oedipus' aspects in 'Oedipus Rex'?

A tall man who shuffles through life on scarred, swollen feet is Oedipus' only known aspect in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, only three characters describe Theban King Oedipus. Oedipus' wife, Queen Jocasta, likens him as a younger version of her first husband, the tall and well shaped King Laius. Jocasta's most trusted servant points out the scars and swollen ankles that deform the shape and hinder the functioning of Oedipus' feet. Oedipus himself says that his scarred ankles are his lifelong shame. A final insight tracks back to his very name: Oedipus is ancient Greek for "swollen feet."


What are Oedipus' physical characteristics in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Height, scarred and swollen ankles, and shuffling gait are the only physical details that is specified about Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta is the main information source about Oedipus' appearance. She says that Oedipus is tall and of the same unspecified looks and shape as his first husband, King Laius. She says nothing else, which is somewhat surprising since Oedipus has a distinct appearance. The Theban shepherd says that Oedipus' shuffling gait comes from having a rod run through both ankles at the tender age of three days.


Who spoke this line in Oedipus Rex and the significance Nor did three days succeed the infant's birth Before by other hands he cast him forth Maiming his ankles on a lonely hill?

Jocasta spoke these lines. Oedipus realizes that Lauis might be his father.


What are the unusual circumstances of Oedipus' birth in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That he is the bearer of back luck and that he is the survivor of child abuse are the unusual circumstances of Oedipus' birth in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus is fated to kill his father. His parents, Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta, make arrangements for him to have a rod run through both ankles and to be left exposed on the mountains outside Thebes. But Oedipus survives even though he carries the traces of murderous and mutilating abuse through his scarred and swollen ankles and his shuffling gait.


What does Jocasta feel at the end of 'Oedipus Rex'?

Horror over the realization of her fate is what Jocasta feels at the end of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta hurries into the palace after realizing that her second husband, King Oedipus, is her son and the killer of her first husband, Laius. She is horrified at not processing the physical proofs of Oedipus' identity: the resemblance to Laius, the scarred and swollen ankles, and the shuffling gait. She must accept responsibility for her blasphemous attempt to sabotage fate and for her incestuous marriage and parenting. She takes her life in recognition of the full horror of her existence.

Related questions

What are Oedipus' aspects in 'Oedipus Rex'?

A tall man who shuffles through life on scarred, swollen feet is Oedipus' only known aspect in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, only three characters describe Theban King Oedipus. Oedipus' wife, Queen Jocasta, likens him as a younger version of her first husband, the tall and well shaped King Laius. Jocasta's most trusted servant points out the scars and swollen ankles that deform the shape and hinder the functioning of Oedipus' feet. Oedipus himself says that his scarred ankles are his lifelong shame. A final insight tracks back to his very name: Oedipus is ancient Greek for "swollen feet."


What are Oedipus' physical characteristics in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Height, scarred and swollen ankles, and shuffling gait are the only physical details that is specified about Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta is the main information source about Oedipus' appearance. She says that Oedipus is tall and of the same unspecified looks and shape as his first husband, King Laius. She says nothing else, which is somewhat surprising since Oedipus has a distinct appearance. The Theban shepherd says that Oedipus' shuffling gait comes from having a rod run through both ankles at the tender age of three days.


What is done to the baby Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That rods are run through both his ankles and that he is abandoned and then fostered into another royal household are what happens to the baby Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta make the decision to have rods run through the ankles of their three-day-old infant son, Oedipus. This is preparatory to the infant being abandoned to inclement weather and foraging wildlife on the mountains outside Thebes. But Jocasta's most trusted servant, a Theban shepherd, has second thoughts and instead hands Oedipus over to a Corinthian shepherd. Upon his return to Corinth, the shepherd gives Oedipus to the childless Corinthian royal household.


Who spoke this line in Oedipus Rex and the significance Nor did three days succeed the infant's birth Before by other hands he cast him forth Maiming his ankles on a lonely hill?

Jocasta spoke these lines. Oedipus realizes that Lauis might be his father.


What are the unusual circumstances of Oedipus' birth in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That he is the bearer of back luck and that he is the survivor of child abuse are the unusual circumstances of Oedipus' birth in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus is fated to kill his father. His parents, Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta, make arrangements for him to have a rod run through both ankles and to be left exposed on the mountains outside Thebes. But Oedipus survives even though he carries the traces of murderous and mutilating abuse through his scarred and swollen ankles and his shuffling gait.


What does Jocasta feel at the end of 'Oedipus Rex'?

Horror over the realization of her fate is what Jocasta feels at the end of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta hurries into the palace after realizing that her second husband, King Oedipus, is her son and the killer of her first husband, Laius. She is horrified at not processing the physical proofs of Oedipus' identity: the resemblance to Laius, the scarred and swollen ankles, and the shuffling gait. She must accept responsibility for her blasphemous attempt to sabotage fate and for her incestuous marriage and parenting. She takes her life in recognition of the full horror of her existence.


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.


How does the meaning of the name Oedipus foreshadow the discovery of Oedipus' identity?

Oedipus' name means 'lame or swollen footed'. The name that's based on injury to the feet therefore foreshadows Theban King Oedipus' true nature as the discarded son of his true biological parents, Theban King Laius and Theban Queen Jocasta. An early injury to the feet has permanent effects on the appearance and the gait.Laius had been warned of his future death at the hands of his own son. He therefore told Jocasta to kill the three day old Oedipus. A rod was run through the infant's ankles to make it easier to throw him onto a hillside and die from exposure to the weather, the dogs, and the birds.But Jocasta couldn't bear to kill her own son. She instead hoped to save both her husband and her son. So she handed Oedipus over to a shepherd to raise far away from Thebes. The shepherd removed the rod. But damage to the Achilles' tendon left Oedipus with swollen ankles. It also gave him an abnormalgait.


Why does Oedipus limp in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is because of a childhood injury to his ankles that Oedipus limps in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus is injured when a rod is run through both ankles just three days after his birth. The rod is removed, but has lasting aftereffects. Oedipus moves around with a shuffling gait and has permanently scarred and swollen ankles.


How does the shepherd identify Oedipus as the baby he rescues in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is by Oedipus' scarred ankles that the shepherd identifies Oedipus as the baby he rescues in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the three-day-old infant Oedipus has a rod run through both ankles. The rod is removed when the Theban shepherd prevents Oedipus' death by exposure on the mountains outside Thebes. But the piercing leaves Oedipus with scarred and swollen ankles as well as with a shuffling gait.


What do Oedipus' birth parents do to him shortly after his birth in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Arrange to have him killed is what Oedipus' birth parents do to him shortly after his birth in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus is just three days old when he leaves the royal palace where he is born. His father King Laius puts a rod through both his son's ankles. He reminds his wife, Queen Jocasta, that the child must die so as not to grow up to be the prophesied killer of his own father and sovereign. Jocasta reveals her lack of enthusiasm for the deed to her most trusted servant. Her servant takes responsibility for disposing of the infant.


What do Oedipus' parents do to him before they send him off to die in the mountains in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Run a rod through his ankles is what Oedipus' parents do to him before they send him off to die in the mountains in the play "Oedipus Rex" by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, King Laius and Queen Jocasta plan to have their three-day-old infant son die by exposure in the mountains outside Thebes. Allowing a child to die was considered far less serious than killing a parent, which a prophecy says Oedipus will do if allowed to grow up. The rod through the ankles shows anyone who finds him that Oedipus is left deliberately to die.