What are the strengths and weaknesses of the characters Jocasta, Creon, and Teiresias in Oedipus the king?
Jocasta is intelligent. (Oedipus seems to have inherited her brains and Laius’ temper.) She realizes where Oedipus’ investigation is leading before he does. However, she can’t live with the realization. Creon is unambitious and peaceful, as we see in the scene in which Oedipus makes irrational accusations against him and it takes him some time to be goaded into losing his temper. At the end of the play, he’s reluctantly in charge and shows that he can be firm but compassionate. Teiresias I would call rather cynical. His opening line sums it up: It’s no blessing to have special knowledge if it can’t be used. He .knows the whole situation in Thebes and has chosen to ignore it, evidently because exposing it would lead to even worse consequences than the city is now suffering. Not until Oedipus goads him (like Creon) into losing his temper does he answer Oedipus’ question, and then Oedipus proves him right by refusing to believe him and making wild and unfounded accusations.
