Do you think Jocasta (in Oedipus had control over her destiny?

Question

I think so but the only evidence that I can think of is that her actions resulted in the prophecy actually coming true.

Can anybody think of any more evidence that proves the Jocasta is responsible for what happened to her in the end?

Answer 1

I do not believe that Jocasta had control over the part of her destiny that involved Oedipus killing her husband and marrying her. Once the Oracle made a prediction, it always came true, n o matter what. In fact, the prediction almost always came true *because* of the attempts made to thwart it - if they had kept Oedipus and raised him, it is doubtful that he would have married Jocasta, but the oracle knew that they would not.

However, Jocasta did not need to commit suicide upon the revelation that Oedipus was her son. Yes, the situation was bad. But her people needed her. Had she remained alive and had she dealt with the painful situation, it is very likely that her two sons would not have split the country in two with civil war. That particular part of her destiny she had complete control over, but she chose a path that was not the best path for her country.

Answer 2

This was my first answer:
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But then I started explaining why Oedipus himself is more liable--in part for thinking he could outrun destiny--and I realized that to the extent that Jocasta did not kill the baby, she *is* kind of liable. She was told this baby would murder her husband and marry her. She did not kill him. To that extent, she's liable.

But it's not very :-)