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| Character | Jocasta | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Female | |
| Age Range(s) | Adult (36-50), Senior (>50) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | Persuasive, Descriptive, Lamenting | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Ancient Greek | |
| Genre | Tragedy, Drama, War | |
| Description | Jocasta tries to persuade her sons not to fight | |
Summary
The story of this play is the same as Aeschylus' "Seven Against Thebes". It is the sequel of Oedipus Rex and it starts after Oedipus blinds himself when he discovers he has killed his own father and married his mother. Oedipus sons, Eteocles and Polyneices, decide to split the rule of the city. Each one of them will rule Thebes for one year and then switch. After Eteocles' year ends, however, he decides not to step down and eventually his brother raises an army from Argos to conquer Thebes.
The two brothers fight against each other, meet in the battle and fatally wound each other. They both die and the king of Thebes, Creon, decides only to bury Eteocles in the city.
This monologue is delivered by Jocasta when she meets both her sons. They both present their argument on why they want to fight. Jocasta tries to persuade them not to go ahead with the war and addresses both her sons.
The two brothers fight against each other, meet in the battle and fatally wound each other. They both die and the king of Thebes, Creon, decides only to bury Eteocles in the city.
This monologue is delivered by Jocasta when she meets both her sons. They both present their argument on why they want to fight. Jocasta tries to persuade them not to go ahead with the war and addresses both her sons.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
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| JOCASTA Eteocles, my child, it is not all evil that attends old age; sometimes its experience can offer sager counsel than can youth. Oh why, my son, art thou so set upon Ambition, that worst of deities? Forbear; that goddess knows not justice; many are the homes and cities once prosperous that she hath entered and left after the ruin of her votaries; she it is thou madly followest. Better far, my son, prize Equality that ever linketh friend to friend, city to city, and allies to each other; for Equality is man's natural law; but the less is always in opposition to the greater, ushering in the dayspring of dislike. For it is Equality that hath set up for man measures and divisions of weights and hath distinguished numbers; night's sightless orb, and radiant sun proceed upon their yearly course on equal terms, and neither of them is envious when it has to yield. Though sun and gloom then both are servants in man's interests, wilt not thou be content with thy fair share of thy heritage and give the same to him? if not, why where is justice? Why prize beyond its worth the monarch's power, injustice in prosperity? why think so much of the admiring glances turned on rank? Nay, 'tis vanity. Or wouldst thou by heaping riches in thy halls, heap up toil therewith? what advantage is it? 'tis but a name; for the wise find that enough which suffices for their wants. Man indeed hath no possessions of his own; we do but hold a stewardship of the gods' property; and when they will, they take it back again. Riches make no settled home, but are as transient as the day. Come, suppose I put before thee two alternatives, whether thou wilt rule or save thy city? Wilt thou say "Rule"? Again, if Polyneices win the day and his Argive warriors rout the ranks of Thebes, thou wilt see this city conquered and many a captive maid brutally dishonoured by the foe; so will that wealth thou art so bent on getting become a grievous bane to Thebes; but still ambition fills thee. This I say to thee; and this to thee, Polyneices; Adrastus hath conferred a foolish favour on thee; and thou too hast shown little sense in coming to lay thy city waste. Suppose thou conquer this land (which Heaven forefend!) tell me, I conjure thee, how wilt thou rear a trophy to Zeus? how wilt thou begin the sacrifice after thy country's conquest or inscribe the spoils at the streams of Inachus with "Polyneices gave Thebes to the flames and dedicated these shields to the gods"? Oh! never, my son, be it thine to win such fame from Hellas! If, on the other hand, thou art worsted and thy brother's cause prevail, how shalt thou return to Argos, leaving countless dead behind? Some one will be sure to say, "Out on thee! Adrastus, for the evil bridegroom thou hast brought unto thy house; thanks to one maid's marriage, ruin is come on us." Towards two evils, my son, art thou hasting,-loss of influence there and ruin in the midst of thy efforts here. Oh! my children, lay aside your violence; two men's follies, once they meet, result in very deadly evil. |
