Ashley Lyrock, Romelie Biyo, Ryan To, Han Lu, Amy Rivera Period 4 – Group 3 March 8, 2018 Jocasta & Oedipus

Literal Meaning of Prompt 1977: Choose a character who views the past with such feelings as reverence, bitterness, or longing. Show with clear evidence from the work how the character’s view of the past is used to develop a theme in the work. Pick a person from the story that either hates, misses, or admires the past and show how the author uses their view create a meaningful message in the story. Sophocles uses Oedipus and his mother/wife's regret of their past to create a message saying that no matter how much you try to change your fate, you cannot change what the Gods want.

Examples Of Literal Prompt "She wailed in mourning for her marriage, in which she had borne double offspring, a husband for her husband and a children for her child" (Sophocles 92).      Jocasta finds out that the prophecy comes true and she looks back to her past and regrets all of her efforts trying overcome her set fate because they eventually lead to the prophecy to come true. "It was Apollo, friends, Apollo, who brought to fulfillment all my sufferings.'" (Sophocles 96).       Oedipus finds Jocasta dead and feels bitter for killing his dad and causing his mother to suicide. He blames all of his suffering on Apollo because he now sees (which is ironic because he is blind now) that man cannot compete with the gods. Man cannot change his fate if a god doesn't agree.

Literary Device – Symbolism z Literary Device – Symbolism "Jocasta, our queen, is dead...And there we saw Jocasta, hanging, her neck caught in a swinging noose of rope." (Page 93) When Jocasta hangs herself with bed sheets, this is symbolic because of her despair over her incestuous actions that she married her own son and gave birth to his children. 

Literary Device – Dramatic Irony z Literary Device – Dramatic Irony "...for Apollo said clearly that Laius was to be killed by my son. But that poor infant never killed Laius; it met its own death first." (Page 59) Jocasta believes that it was a band of thieves who killed her husband instead of her own child. This is a dramatic Irony because the audience knew that Oedipus is the murder who killed Laius, who is in fact, his biological father. 

Archetype – Supernatural Intervention z Archetype – Supernatural Intervention Page 96 – “It was Apollo, friends, Apollo, who brought to fulfillment all my sufferings.” The bitterness of Oedipus is shown as Apollo intervened against him, through the prophecy that he shall kill his father and marry his mother.

z Archetype – The Quest Pg. 16 : “I shall shrink from nothing in my search to find the murderer of Laius, of the royal line of Thebes, stretching back through Ladacus, Polydorus, and Cadmus, to ancient Agenor.” This “Quest” that Oedipus goes on to find the murderer of Laius ultimately leads him to discover his true past and him fulfilling Apollo’s prophecy. This leads to his tragic fall, along with Jocasta’s, at the end of it all.

Significant Moment #1 "A Prophet? In that case, rid your mind of fear, and listen to me, I can teach you something. There is no human being born that is endowed with prophetic power. I can prove it you – and in a few words." (50) Jocasta does not believe in the powers of a prophet and she is in complete denial about the truth of the prophecy. This event is dramatic irony because the audience knows that the prophecy will end up becoming true. Jocasta's past actions of trying to abandon and kill her baby will eventually catch up to her. 

Significant Moment #2 "Hear is the thing quickest for me to say and you to hear. Jocasta, our queen, is dead." (92) Jocasta's past has finally caught up to her. She is bitter than her plan to kill her child did not work and the prophecy is coming true. 

Significant Moment #3 "Murmuring words like these he raised his hands and struck his eyes again, and again, and each time the wounded eyes sent a stream of blood down his chin..." (94) Oedipus is bitter and angry that the prophecy has come true. He believes he needs to bring himself to justice so he blinds himself and places a curse who rescued him when he was a baby. 

Topic 1 - AP Prompt 1977 Choose a character who views the past with such feelings as reverence, bitterness, or longing. Show with clear evidence from the work how the character’s view of the past is used to develop a theme in the work. Jocasta, longtime queen of Thebes, loved her first husband, attempted to killed own baby

Topic 1 - AP Prompt 1977 cont. Experiences happiness again when Oedipus becomes king After discovering son is murderer and efforts to prevent prophecy have failed, becomes drastically depressed and mourns King Laius Develops on fate v.s. free will theme and tragedy

z Topic 2 - AP Prompt 2003 Select a tragic figure that functions as an instrument of the suffering of others in "Oedipus Rex." Discuss and explain how the suffering brought upon by the tragic figure contributes to the tragic vision as a whole. Discovery that he is the true murderer - mom/wife commits suicide in response to news

z Topic 2 - AP Prompt 2003 cont. Letting himself down - failure to listen to the word of others Suicide tragedy leads to King Oedipus blinding himself - most important part of his fall Has to leave children to Creon Adds severity and suspense to tragic vision

Citations http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/15700/15726/laiusdeath_15726.htm https://missenslaved.deviantart.com/art/Jocasta-121179305 http://algeire.choosefriendship.co/oedipus-fate-essay.html http://budismocampinas.org.br/karma-um-fundamento-budista- essencial/