Women in Oedipus
The role of women in King Oedipus; a play by Sophocles and Minimum of Two; an anthology by Tim Winton, play their own part in leading the action of these texts. Today I will be focusing on the way they do this, and how their traits change as their lives progress. I will also be exploring how they provide support for their husbands and families, and also the impact of the period of time in which the text was written.
The main female character from Sophocles’ play, King Oedipus, in fact the only female character present, is Jocasta. Jocasta is the wife of Oedipus. She is exposed as a compassionate, competent and loyal woman to her husband; telling him “I will do nothing other than you wish”. This is, of course, when she is unaware of the truth regarding Oedipus.
Throughout the play she acts as a stronghold for her husband, for as long as she can provide it and that he needs and wants her for it; because as the plot continues, she eventually is no longer able to act as an anchor of strength for him, and he becomes less reliant on her and more involved in solving the curse. Constantly she is trying to calm him, and provide a pathway for him that she believes is right, although he doesn’t always agree, and often tries to take things into his own hands.
She is constantly urging him to reject Teiresias’s prophecies, and to let go of this ever building mystery, which she feels will blow out of proportion and out of their control. ‘No man possesses the secret of divination’, she states, ‘And I have proof.’ She is so sure these prophecies are untrue, but feels that he is defying the Gods, attempting to be something bigger, and trying to take things under his own control.
She begs him to believe her, calling on the Gods; “For the love of God, believe it, Oedipus!” At first we see her as a strong woman; one who seems to have control of the situation and of her life, for her first appearance is putting an end to a fight between Oedipus and her brother Creon.
The main female character from Sophocles’ play, King Oedipus, in fact the only female character present, is Jocasta. Jocasta is the wife of Oedipus. She is exposed as a compassionate, competent and loyal woman to her husband; telling him “I will do nothing other than you wish”. This is, of course, when she is unaware of the truth regarding Oedipus.
Throughout the play she acts as a stronghold for her husband, for as long as she can provide it and that he needs and wants her for it; because as the plot continues, she eventually is no longer able to act as an anchor of strength for him, and he becomes less reliant on her and more involved in solving the curse. Constantly she is trying to calm him, and provide a pathway for him that she believes is right, although he doesn’t always agree, and often tries to take things into his own hands.
She is constantly urging him to reject Teiresias’s prophecies, and to let go of this ever building mystery, which she feels will blow out of proportion and out of their control. ‘No man possesses the secret of divination’, she states, ‘And I have proof.’ She is so sure these prophecies are untrue, but feels that he is defying the Gods, attempting to be something bigger, and trying to take things under his own control.
She begs him to believe her, calling on the Gods; “For the love of God, believe it, Oedipus!” At first we see her as a strong woman; one who seems to have control of the situation and of her life, for her first appearance is putting an end to a fight between Oedipus and her brother Creon.