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A review by letsea
The Children of Jocasta by Natalie Haynes
3.0
I must say I enjoyed Jocasta's narrative more than I did Ismene's, probably because I'm not as familiar with her story as I am Jocasta's (funnily enough, I've never read Oedipus Tyrannos or any other classic version, but I did read a version of Antigone for teenagers), or maybe I just prefer a third person narrator over a first person.
Though I found the choice of two narrative perspectives strange at first, I would venture to say that Jocasta's story is narrated by Ismene herself. After all Sophon did ask her to write her story and they both travelled to Corinth to meet Oedipus, so she only needed to ask for details. I believe this would explain the use of two narrative perspectives (but only one narrator?)
Regarding the fact of Oedipus not being Jocasta's son, I wasn't as bothered by it as much as I would have thought. I don't think the idea is truly dismissed, at least I didn't believe so, maybe it's just my inability to accept any changes from the original myth.
Though I found the choice of two narrative perspectives strange at first, I would venture to say that Jocasta's story is narrated by Ismene herself. After all Sophon did ask her to write her story and they both travelled to Corinth to meet Oedipus, so she only needed to ask for details. I believe this would explain the use of two narrative perspectives (but only one narrator?)
Regarding the fact of Oedipus not being Jocasta's son, I wasn't as bothered by it as much as I would have thought. I don't think the idea is truly dismissed, at least I didn't believe so, maybe it's just my inability to accept any changes from the original myth.