Jocasta And Oedipus Flaws

When Jocasta and Oedipus argue about whether or not Oedipus should search for the truth that was prophesied, the characteristic that he presents becomes viewed as his tragic flaw. The fact that he indeed has a tragic flaw becomes evident based on the events of the story Oedipus Rex and the way in which he reacts to them. We get to this point in which we see this characteristic where mother and son are arguing after Oedipus kills his real father and marries his mother, therefore making the prophecy come true. Only this is dramatic irony, for the audience knows it while they did not. However, when the prophecy is told many years later, Oedipus and Jocasta both have their suspicions that it has become true. This is where their opinions differentiate and cause a clash, which brings out Oedipus’ tragic flaw; stubbornness.

While Jocasta wants Oedipus to give up all of these rumors and look no further into it, Oedipus continues to object and tell her that he must find the truth. The first signs of his stubborn personality begin to show. Then, the play displays irony in the way of which he says, “Suppose my mother is a slave,” (1008). He is currently talking to his real mother, which is what he wants to discover, and he is oblivious to the fact that he is hurting her by looking for the truth. Another instance in which this is exhibited is when she says, “Listen to me, I beg you!” and he returns with a sentence very much representing himself, “ I will not listen” (1010). Blinded by how he sees as the only option, he does not listen to his own mother, even when she begs. If he did not have this tragic flaw, perhaps considered her pleas, he might think twice about what pain would follow finding the