Yvette’s Selected Pearls -- From Jocasta to Oedipus

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英一甲 林于竣

     If you are reading this letter that means I have already received the punishment that I deserve. Oedipus, you are known as my husband, but in fact, the infant that I gave birth to several years ago. The infant with the prophecy that would kill his own father and marry his mother. I believe the plague upon our kingdom is a punishment from the gods because of our unforgivable behavior, incest and unfilialness. I can no longer bear with this accusation in my life. Now that I have left for another world, marry someone legitimate, rule the kingdom with kindness and justice. May the God forgive us.

 

英一甲 劉松穎

 Dear Oedipus,

I understand that we can’t avoid the destiny settled by Gods.
We can be together no matter the gender or ages. However, you are my son! That is totally different. I even had babies with you. I really can’t stand how shameful it was. Your father and I tried to avoid the fate, but it seems that there’s no way. Oh! My dear son! Please forgive me for making this decision.  Whenever I thought about the shame I felt gross and disgusted, so please let me go. I guess this is farewell, my son.

Your mother, Jocasta

圖傳二甲 秦川

To Oedipus:

    My son, Oedipus, on the day you were born the very oracle at Delphi from the great Apollo had predicted your destiny already.  We mortals naively think that we can conquer our fate or fear, which only leads to our being trapped into the fear as well as the pain much further.  Only at the end of my pathetic life do I realize that, how weak and how lonely we humans are on this planet.

    I want to apologize to you, and your tragically murdered father.
    Oedipus, my beloved son, the unfortunate consequence of me and your father King Laius, abandoned in your infancy, I beg your forgiveness with infinite regret from the bottom of my heart.  It is the fate that pushes you back to me and makes us intimate again.  But today, I cannot accept the reality, more like a lie to some extent even though it combines us together so tightly again.

    And dear Laius, my husband, our fear to the death was so great that even misled us to leave our own flesh and blood in the forest mercilessly, however, brought termination to ourselves.  Alas!  Our narrow souls which were blinded by the unknown are finally punished.  The consequence we shall suffer, and ironically it is how the fate rules us all.

    And I deeply apologize to my four other children also.  You will lose your mother, grandmother as well, at such a young age. Hope you four will earn a bright future and can grow up strongly with honor, glory and blessing rather than the dreadful curse on you.  All your mournful mother can do now is gives you her best wishes.

    My soul is tortured, suffering.  And it is the only way for me to release the misery by ending my shameful, humble life with my own hands.  So, please don’t blame yourself, my son, for you know the only fault is mine.  Meanwhile I will face the result caused by my fault directly and peacefully.  My life comes to an end, and at last, as a parent and wife I beg you to take care of yourselves in the following days or years.

Endless sorrow,
Jocasta