Oedipus Falsehoods

In Sophocles' play "Oedipus Rex," when Jocasta questions Oedipus about what Creon has said to him, Oedipus only gives her a limited version of the truth. He tells her that Creon accused him of conspiring to kill Laius, the former king of Thebes and Jocasta's first husband, and take his place on the throne. However, Oedipus omits the crucial information that an oracle has prophesied he would kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus likely avoids telling his wife the complete truth for several reasons: 1. Protection: Oedipus might have wanted to protect Jocasta from the horrible truth of the prophecy, knowing that she would understandably be distraught by it. He may decide that it is better to keep her in the dark to avoid causing her pain and suffering. 2. Fear: Oedipus himself is deeply afraid of the prophecy and reluctant to believe that it could come true. By sharing this information with Jocasta, he might fear that it could make the prophecy feel more real and make it more likely to come true. 3. Uncertainty: At this point in the play, Oedipus is still uncertain about the accuracy of the prophecy and whether it truly refers to him. He might believe that revealing the full extent of the prophecy to Jocasta would be premature, especially since the evidence hasn't clearly demonstrated that he is the prophesied individual. 4. Pride: Oedipus has a strong sense of pride and believes that he can outsmart the prophecy and defy the gods. Admitting the full truth to Jocasta may be seen as a sign of weakness or that he is giving into the power of the prophecy. Regardless of his reasons, Oedipus' decision to keep Jocasta in the dark ultimately contributes to the tragic consequences of the play as the truth about their relationship is eventually revealed.