Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the...

The Role of Fate in Oedipus the King In Oedipus the King, one can easily see the tragedy that comes when Oedipus lives out fate, although not of his own intentions. Oedipus did everything in his own power in order to keep the prophecies from being fulfilled. One might even say that Oedipus ran from fate. Webster defines tragedy as a medieval narrative poem or tale typically describing the downfall of a great man. Oedipus the King is certainly a tragedy, and as Dr. Lucas states in his blog, Character V. Fate, it is the definitive tragedy (p.2). It is difficult to see Oedipus as a bad man. In order for the story to be considered a tragedy, Oedipus must have been a great man. Of course he made some poor choices, but most of his†¦show more content†¦Of course it is not possible to completely absolve Oedipus from blame, but one can certainly understand much of his wrongdoings that he later so severely punished himself for. Dr. Lucas says in Character V. Fate that Oedipus ultimately takes responsibility for his actio ns ( Lucas p. 2). Only a great man would take responsibility for a wrongdoing that he had been able to get away with for so long. It had been years before when Oedipus killed Laius. He was able to marry and have children with Jacosta. Oedipus felt that it was his duty as King to uncover the reason behind the plague that was hurting the people in his Kingdom. Oedipus took responsibility and probably punished himself more than Creon or any other would have. While living in ignorance to the sins that Oedipus had committed Oedipus could see and serve as King. He chose to blind himself when he learned the truth. The prophecies that he had been willing to forsake his homeland for had come true without Oedipus even realizing it. He left home to protect his birth father, whom he had loved. By not allowing Oedipus to know the truth of his ancestry, his family had opened the door for his fall. Revermann also says Oedipus is indeed trapped by these two old men (Revermann p. 4). Oedipus lived without knowing what he was doing. The truth was too difficult for Oedipus to deal with. He had tried so hard to avoid the horrific prophecies, and fell right into them. He believed that he had a choice, but Oedipus didShow MoreRelatedFate vs Free Will1663 Words   |  7 PagesOedipus The King: Fate Vs. Free Will The ancient Greek writer, Sophocles suggests that while there are factors beyond mankind’s control that we have the power to make choices that affect our destiny. In his play, Oedipus the King, Sophocles makes it quite clear that although everyone is born with a fate, you have the ability to alter its direction and toll. The main character of the play, Oedipus, is based on the way Sophocles portrays the equilibrium between fate and freewill, and shows theRead MoreFate vs Free Will in Sophocles ´ Oedipus Rex and Shakespeare ´s Macbeth1487 Words   |  6 PagesFate and free will are two topics that are often questionable because they go hand in hand. Fate is a belief that a certain event is said to happen, then that persons choice and free will lead them to what has been predicted as inevitable. Knowing whether something is fate’s fault or the fault of the person who’s going to enact the said action, is one question that has never been fully answered. In Soph ocles Oedipus Rex and Shakespeares Macbeth, fate is determined by their own choices and freeRead MoreThe Role Of Fate And Fate In Oedipus1075 Words   |  5 PagesIn the current world, fate and destiny are not things to be believed in. Anyone who says so is often deemed as a fake or a fraud, which is usually true. 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Oedipus was a victim of fate when he was predicted from birth to someday marry his mother andRead MoreOedipus The King By Sophocles1165 Words   |  5 PagesOedipus the King was written by Sophocles and was is titled Oedipus Rex in Latin. It is one of the most well-known Greek tragedies. As is the case with Greek tragedies—or roughly most tragedies that make their way to stage—fate plays a key role in the events in Oedipus Rex. Oedipus discovers there is a plague on his city. The only way to lift the plague is by slaying the former king’s killer. As the play’s acts unfold one discovers about the prophecy concerning Oedipus. The prophecy states that OedipusRead MoreOedipus The King By Sophocles950 Words   |  4 PagesThe people throughout Oedipus’ life trues very hard to allow him to escape his fate of killing his father and then marrying his mother. In the epic poem Oedipus the King, Sophocles tells the story of the tragic downfall of Oedipus. Although many people see the role of free will that brought upon Oedipus’ doom, no matter what choices were made throughout his life, his ultimate fate would always return. The choices made at the beginning of Oedipus’ life set him up to fulfill his prophecy. His parentsRead MoreExamples Of Fate In Oedipus1010 Words   |  5 PagesIt is the responsibility of man to take ownership of his destiny which separates the human condition for that of other earthly beasts. From birth, Oedipus, the tragic hero of Sophocles’ Greek Tragedy Oedipus Rex, is destined to kill his father and marry his mother. Although by the opening act of the play, Oedipus has earned the throne of Thebes for solving the riddle of the Sphinx, the eponymous character is unaware that he has already fulfilled his prophecy. Meanwhile, the people of Thebes are dyingRead MoreMovie Analysis : Oedipus 968 Words   |  4 PagesJourney to The Truth Oedipus, the main character in Sophocles drama experiences loss of control over his fate in life. The gods of Athens predetermined Oedipus destiny. Born in the city of Thebes, Oedipus became a man distant from his birthplace only to return and face the unescapable. To discover his own identity, Oedipus had gone through running away to the place he called home, murdering his father, save the city of These by solving the riddle, and marrying his mother. Fate and freewill playRead MoreFree will and Determinism in Oedipus the King by Sophocles Essay924 Words   |  4 Pagesby human actions. If this is true, we can imply that people do not have free will and thus are not responsible for their actions. In Oedipus the King we see that the dichotomy of fate and free will is hazed by the hyperbole of events, which can make it difficult, but possible, to determine if humans even have free will. Through Oedipus’s flaws and decisions and Sophocles use of the imagery of a crossroad it i s apparent that free will can be exercised in a meaningful way. The play opens, and immediatelyRead MoreAnalysis Of The Odyssey And Oedipus The King 999 Words   |  4 Pagesundoubtedly acknowledge that nature works in a logical way and there is robotizing in that. Through our own particular exertion we can control nature and redirect its activity. In the Odyssey and Oedipus the king the thing they went through was very difficult times in there life. That would have them make no other choice but to call on a higher powers. But as human, when we get idea of God and we think that God controls the nature. It s like we don t look at it as something else out there has control of