Fate and Predestination
In the narrative of fate and predestination, those who wield power often exhibit a profound insensitivity, as exemplified by Jocasta in the first act. This portrayal implicitly criticizes the indifference of governments towards immediate interventions that could ameliorate the plight of ordinary citizens. Instead of focusing on short-term relief, there is an overreliance on long-term policies, which seem futile in the face of an unpredictable future. Attempts to foresee what lies ahead, such as consulting oracles, often end in confusion and despair, yielding no beneficial outcomes.
The myth of Oedipus illustrates the futility of trying to evade destiny. The Sphinx, in an attempt to interfere with divine will by sparing Oedipus, unwittingly propels him towards his unavoidable fate. Jocasta and Oedipus themselves endeavor in vain to escape their predestined paths, only to find themselves ensnared by them. Their experiences underscore a compelling argument against delving into the past; Oedipus's obsessive quest to unveil the source of the plague and the truth behind the Corinthian message only hastens the impending disaster.
Jean Cocteau's understanding of his contemporaries emerges vividly in this context. His narrative echoes the dark period in French history during the Philippe Pétain era, where there was a notorious propensity to find scapegoats—not merely for the military defeat in 1940, but for the perceived moral degradation afflicting the nation. Through Oedipus, Cocteau draws a parallel to the dangers of such scapegoating, suggesting that the true calamity lies not in the fated events but in the moral failures of society.
Playwright's Control and Theatrical Experience
In the realm of theater, the playwright wields unparalleled authority over the unfolding drama, a concept vividly illustrated by Cocteau in his work. Drawing a parallel to ancient myths, where divine entities toy with human destinies, Cocteau parallels this with the control a playwright has...
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over their characters. Much like mythological figures who are at the mercy of the gods, characters on stage find themselves bound by the script, unable to deviate from their destined paths.
Cocteau skillfully embeds subtle foreshadowing into the dialogue of Jocasta and Oedipus, crafting lines that unknowingly allude to the revelations and tragedies that lie ahead. This manipulation highlights the playwright’s intent and foresight, akin to the mythical gods who devised intricate plans for mortals. The very title of the play, The Infernal Machine, encapsulates this duality, symbolizing both the contraption devised by deities to destroy a human and the structured, inexorable nature of a theatrical performance.
The experience crafted by Cocteau serves as a reflection on the deterministic nature of theater, where every line and action is predestined, mirroring the ancient narratives where humans were mere pawns in a divine game. The audience, much like the characters, is drawn into this intricately woven narrative, compelled to witness the inevitable unfolding of fate devised by the playwright's hand.