Oedipus and Jocasta Challenged the Gods

Introduction

The author presents an analysis of the Greek myth of Oedipus, after Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. This analysis considers that, in addition to an oracular destiny determinate by deity, Oedipus realizes his own human destiny, which is the very conquest of the knowledge of his own identity. The author relates such a conquest to the psychoanalytic work, which enables each individual to get in touch with his deepest motivations and to develop a better self-consciousness (Brown, P 206).

Oedipus and Jocasta Challenged the Gods

One of the most commonly seen traits among the characters that make up the Greek mythology is the violence which permeates their relationship. Few, though, have experienced such radical changes as Oedipus. He is one of the most touching figures of Greek mythology: no character seems to be displayed with such clarity and emphasis on his weaknesses and noble human traits like him. He was worked in a very special way by Sophocles in two tragedies, Oedipus Rex and Oedipus in Colono. The genius of Sophocles gives him a universal dimension, applicable to all epochs and to all men. Oedipus fights against himself, in a battle which he cannot win. He represents the tragedy of a man's encounter with his own truth (Brown, P 206).

Apollo is the God behind the nebulous conspiration involving Oedipus. Oracular god, hides what he reveals through his oracles. The soothsayer of Delphi confirms the old curse that hung over a confused Oedipus, tormented about his origin. Yes, he will kill his father and marry his mother, but she does not answer the question: 'Who am I son of?' and Oedipus does not realize, or is unable to realize that he is heading straight to meet the destiny he thought he was swindling. This journey, of intense loneliness, in which Oedipus has to confront the horror of his recent discovery, does not assuage his violent temperament, does not impede that in a road fork which was long waiting for him, he kills an unknown man, his father Laius. It also does not prevent him, further along, to use his sharp intelligence to solve an enigma that has already caused horrible death to many, enigma sang by a blood-thirsty hybrid monster. What better reward to the person who saved a whole city from terror than marry him to a recently widowed queen - Jocasta, his mother, whom he does not know - then turn him into the beloved king of Thebes, his hometown, and then make it prosper? But not for a long time... Apollo was eavesdropping! A crime was committed and someone had to be punished. The first threat, a few years later, was the killer plague. The Apollinean oracle, consulted, answered that in order for them to get rid of the plague a price would have to be paid: to discover who killed Laius. Oedipus starts to investigate... while Apollo laughs! (Dawe, 88).

The path chosen by Oedipus to satisfy Apollo's wish was described by Sophocles; it is impossible to ...