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How do the chorus' and Jocasta's views of life and Gods differ in Oedipus Rex?
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In "Oedipus Rex," the Chorus reveres the gods and believes in adhering to their will, emphasizing the importance of respecting divine laws and omens. Conversely, Jocasta is skeptical of prophecies and attempts to defy the gods, believing humans can control their destiny. Her rejection of Tiresias's prophecy and attempt to outwit the oracle by abandoning her son ultimately lead to tragedy, highlighting the futility of challenging divine will.
In Oedipus Rex the Chorus is there to act as the conscience of the community. As such, it is all too aware of the necessity of adhering to the will of the gods. In this society, the gods must never be challenged. Omens must be carefully interpreted, and gifted seers like Tiresias must be listened to and respected. If not, then the consequences for the community will be disastrous.
The Chorus, in its role as the conscience of the community, warns Jocasta and Oedipus of their hubris. But neither of them are prepared to listen. Jocasta, for her part, is utterly scathing of Tiresias's prophecies, which she absolutely refuses to believe.
Although such behavior may seem foolish, that Jocasta is courting disaster, in actual fact she doesn't have much choice. For the consequences of accepting the truth of Tiresias's prophecies are just way too horrible to contemplate. Simply...
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put, the truth hurts, and Jocasta is not prepared to allow herself to be hurt by the terrible truth that the man she married is actually her son and the killer of her late husband.
The Chorus continues to insist on the importance of following the divine will without question, but Jocasta, for the reasons we've just seen, is unable and unwilling to follow its advice.
Jocasta believes that humans can make their own destiny, while the Chorus holds true to the traditional Greek belief that the gods are in charge of everything and human beings are but the pawns of their whims. It is only by following the signs and precepts of the gods and by making sacrifices to them that human beings can have a good life.
Beginning at line 864, the Chorus says:
May destiny ever find me
pious in word and deed
prescribed by the laws that live on high:
laws begotten in the clear air of heaven...
for God is great in them and grows not old.
And, a bit later:
If a man walks with haughtiness
of hand or word and gives no heed
to Justice and the shrines of Gods
despises -- may an evil doom
smite him for his ill-starred pride of heart!
Jocasta, on the other hand says that oracles are bunk and she, herself, believes that she can outwit an oracle, can outwit the will of the gods through her own actions. She gives her baby away after an oracle has predicted doom upon him, thinking that this will prevent the oracle coming true. When she finds out that she was not, as she had hoped, able to outwit the will of the gods (She realizes that the doom foretold has all come true in the person of Oedipus), she commits suicide.
So, while the Chorus conservatively pays tribute to the gods and their oracles, Jocasta believes that she can beat them at their own game, yet finds out, in the end, that the will of the gods and their oracles cannot be escaped by Man.