Poor Queen Jocasta
She cried to end the plague. Her thirst was quenched.
Myth
Queen Jocasta of Thebes is one of the key figures in the Greek tragedies. She had to give up her three day old son to death because an oracle had told her husband King Laius that their child would bring his death and sleep with his own mother. Since the destiny could not be cheated, Oedipus survives and comes back to play the hand of fate. He marries Jocasta and she births four children. But, the truth comes to light when Thebes is struck again with plague and an Oracle is consulted. Oedipus gouges out his own eyes while Jocasta hangs herself.
Retelling the myth
I whispered the future in Tiresias’ ear.
I told him what he would see.
He said it was prophecy. I agreed.
Who was I to challenge the great seer,
when he couldn’t see.
.
I cried when my husband died,
I was after all, a wife.
The poison stained my fingers, blue as his lips.
Yet, The men didn’t look at me.
I was after all, a queen.
.
The women cried
when I sat on throne of the King.
But my eyes were stuck on him
He would be my new husband
No matter he was my kin
.
I cried to end the plague
My thirst was quenched
But the fool, my son
Went to them
.
I threatened the Gods
To kill my being
I took out his eyes in anger
Hung him from the ceiling
.
What was I to do?
I am put a poor queen
If you liked this piece
You can also recommend The Indian Story. Or Simply share this retelling.
Another story, You may like is Jyoti. It is based on the Sati system in India, where Hindu women were burnt along with their dead husbands.
