Oedipus A Victim Of Fate Analysis

Ida Hernandez

ENGL.2336.02

Dr. Quintanilla

December 12, 2015

Was Oedipus a victim of fate or own free will?

Oedipus was a victim of fate rather than a victim of his own free will. Oedipus was a culprit in his dysfunctional family history but chose life instead of death, unlike Iocaste, his mother and wife. Humans can overcome fate through suffering and Oedipus is an example of this statement. Laius and Iocaste, his parents, believed in the gods' prophesy over the human choice. Furthermore, by crippling Oedipus' feet and leaving him to die, they tried to commit infanticide. Oedipus' life-long suffering was created by cowardly acts that resulted in, Oedipus as a cripple and then as a parentless child trying to later find his true identity.

This was Oedipus' fate. In my opinion, fate is not controlled by the gods, it is controlled by humans. His search for the truth of his father's murder is to help understand himself but later is the result of his blinding. He later discovers it he is exercising his free will after he chose to blind himself and be ostracized.
Oedipus could have controlled what was going to happen to him, if he stayed with the parents who raised him.

He was told his prophecy was that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus could have controlled his actions but because he had no intention of doing those things so he runs away to Thebes. Oedipus believed he was in control of his fate so has left Polybus and Merope his idea is that he will not kill one as well as marry the other. He does not know that the oracles know and that is that the two are not his birth parents. He left without explanation and all his questions would have been answered by his parents. After he realized that the prophecy was true and acknowledges all the things he has done, he was in awe. Iocaste believed the fate was untrue and it had not happen but as the oracle predicted, she discovers the truth and instantly kills herself. She believed she had full control over her life but ended up becoming a victim of fate herself. However, when Oedipus tries to discover what was happening to Thebes, He learns the truth from the blind prophet Teiresias.

Oedipus:

So tell me, when are you the wise seer? (410)

How is it that, when the singing hound was here,

you never said how the citizens might be

freed?
Even though the riddle could not be solved by
the first man who met it, but required prophecy.
But you did not come forth with this, knowing some clue (415)
from birds or gods; instead I came along,
the idiot Oedipus! I stopped her,
working from intellect, not learning from birds.
The gods knew what Oedipus did not, Oedipus is the curse. Oedipus was a victim and followed the prophecy that was given but had he stay with the parents that raised him he could have waited to see if his fate was true and saved Thebes from the danger he caused.
In my opinion, I believe Oedipus could have controlled his fate but because of his lack in knowledge he would not have been able to be in control. Although the gods know the fate of all humans, it can still be proven wrong. Even though both claimed to not believe in the prophecy, Iocaste still sent her son to the mountains for death fearing it would come true and Oedipus runs away without saying his last words to the parents he assumed were his in fear of the word of the oracles.
CHORUS:
Although these things trouble us, my lord, until
you learn from the one who was present, have hope.
OEDIPUS:
Indeed, this much of hope is left to me:
only to await that man, the herdsman.(865)
JOCASTA:
And what do you want of him, when he appears?
OEDIPUS:
I shall tell you; for if he is found saying
the same tale as you, I shall have escaped this woe.
JOCASTA:
What special tale did you hear from me?(870)
OEDIPUS:
You said he reported that brigands
killed Laius. If, then, he still says the same
number, I did not kill him, for surely one man
could not be equal to many. But if he
clearly names a single man, a lone traveler,(875)
then already this deed comes down upon me.
IOCASTE:
Yet, know that his account stood thus, and he cannot
take it back now, for the city heard these things,
not I alone.

But even if he does alter

something from his previous story,

not even thus, my lord, will he bring to(880)

light Laius’ killer truly accomplished,

who, indeed, Loxias said must die at the hands

of my child. Yet my poor boy never slew

him, but rather perished himself long before.

And so I would not look to prophecies,(885)

not here or anywhere else.

OEDIPUS:

You reason well, but, nevertheless, send someone

to fetch the servant, and don’t neglect it.

JOCASTA:

And soon I shall, but let us go inside the house,

for I would do nothing but that it is your wish.(890)

Iocaste and Oedipus both had the idea that they were not living under the prophecy but after communicating and finding out otherwise, the two became victims of fate. In all reality, fate was a major belief and trying to run away or dismiss fate will only push you closer into the trap. Oedipus had no chance and was hit several times with fate. He tried to leave and outright his prophecy but ended up committing the crime. He could no longer run or change anything he had done because it was too late. He decided he would rather suffer instead of being sentenced to death and that is why he saved his

prophecy.