Oedipus The King Jocasta And Suicide Essay

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Suicide is a desperate, final act that allows a person to make one, final lasting statement. Jocasta, from Oedipus The King, is one of these people who uses suicide to end their life and make a final declaration: that their life actions were incorrect. However, a question remains, why would Jocasta commit suicide? [Finish introduction here]
Jocasta has a set character throughout the play and these characteristics [blah blah blah something about blindness] . Jocasta portrays the trait of a skeptic as she constantly questions the prophecy that Tiresias had foretold. The first time she shows her role as a skeptic is during the argument between Creon and Oedipus, “A prophet? Well then, free yourself of every charge! Listen to me and learn some …show more content…

Since Jocasta shows this trait, it will continually blind her from the truth and have a stronger impact on her pride, the second personality trait. Jocasta’s pride proves to be a negative characteristic as it prevents her from realizing the truth. After the messenger arrives with news of Polybus’ death, Oedipus is pleased that Polybus had died thus, should be unable to fulfill the prophecy. Jocasta responds with a boastful remark stating, “There. Didn’t I tell you from the start” (Sophocles 1064-1065). This characteristic leads to Jocasta’s suicide as once the truth is revealed, she has a greater fall and should add weight to her previous actions. Her final characteristic, the trait of religiousness, does not contribute to the theme of blindness however; gives her reason to commit suicide. Despite being a skeptic, Jocasta is careful to not fully blame Apollo’s words and rather blames the prophets for lying, “An oracle came to Laius one fine day (I won’t say from Apollo himself but his underlings, his priests)” (Sophocles 784-785). In addition, she can also be seen praying to the gods, “Lords of the realm, it occured to me, just now, to visit the

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