Oedipus The King Fate Vs Free Will

1505 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Gods in Oedipus the play

In the epic poem, Oedipus the King, Sophocles depicts the Greek’s believe that fate will control a man’s life over free will. In all actions, Man is free to act upon certain action held responsible for, thus owning up for their own mistakes. It also shows how fate works closely than one would expect. Throughout Oedipus the King, fate and free will play a significant role pertaining Oedipus’ destruction. The theme of fate vs. free will in Oedipus Rex is a tricky one. On one hand, the gods determined a person's destiny. On the other, a person's free will is what often led to his fate. This is certainly the epitome of a paradox, and Sophocles uses situational and dramatic irony to convey this theme. The downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy …show more content…

After discovering that the main answer for the torment to leave Thebes and for his kin to be spared is to discover the killer of Laius, he willingly volunteered discover the killer. In spite of his feelings of trepidation and regardless of having apprehensions, he continued with his examination sure that at last he will triumph and yet again spare the general population of Thebes. This was obvious in the way he persistently sought after with his examination. He utilized his energy and position as King to search for the solutions to his inquiries. In this way, he doubted Teiresias and other individuals, for example, the herder, the flag-bearer, Creon and numerous others with a specific end goal to discover reality. Pride and fearlessness were additionally the reasons why he thought he could get away from his fate. Imagining that he can do anything, he cleared out Corinth. He imagined that by leaving Corinth, he will have the capacity to change his fate and modify his own particular future. Worried that the prediction might be satisfied, he exited Corinth so he won't kill his own particular father and wed his own mom. Oedipus, truth be told, commended a few times in the story as he believed that he effectively resisted the prophet. This was clear in the story when he got news that the King Corinth had kicked the

Show More
Related

  • Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Avoidance of Prophecy

    978 Words  | 2 Pages

    was indeed his own, true father, Laius, that he has killed at the crossroads at

    Read More

  • Destiny, Fate, and Free Will in Oedipus the King - A Victim of Fate

    873 Words  | 2 Pages

    that their son would kill his father and marry his mother (page 56).  A son was

    Read More

  • Proactive or Paranoid?

    857 Words  | 2 Pages

    Oedipus the King, a tale of one man’s hubris, paranoia, and willingness to sacrifice his own happiness for the happiness of others. Does one man’s fate designate who he will become? Is it possible to change the fate we are given? Or no matter how hard we try, deep down, it is our qualities that force us to make our fates a reality? In Sophocles’s play Oedipus the King we see a man who tried his hardest to change his own fate at all cost, but because of his human qualities he actually forced his fate upon himself.

    Read More

  • Fate And Free Will In Oedipus The King

    1493 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Sophocles ' Oedipus the King, the themes of fate and free will are very strong throughout the play. Only one, however, brought about Oedipus ' downfall and death. Both points could be argued to great effect. In ancient Greece, fate was considered to be a rudimentary part of daily life. Every aspect of life depended and was based upon fate (Nagle 100). It is common belief to assume that mankind does indeed have free will and each individual can decide the outcome of his or her life. Fate and free will both decide the fate of Oedipus the King.

    Read More

  • Oedipus the King: Reason and Passion

    1020 Words  | 3 Pages

    He has always been right in the past; no one else in Thebes is acting resolutely to meet the crisis, any more than they were when the city was threatened before. His vision may well include a certain narrowness, and yet because he sees the world that way, he is also the one with the most confidence in his own sight and the one most ready to act in accordance with what he sees. The way he sees the world lies at the very source of what makes him now, and in the past, a great man. Those around him rely upon that confidence in order for the crisis to be dealt with. It is ironic that the only way that the curse will be lifted from Thebes is by finding the murderer of Laius.

    Read More

  • Fate against Free will in Oedipus the King by Sophocles

    1229 Words  | 3 Pages

    Jevons, Frank B. (1997) “In Sophoclean Tragedy, Humans Create Their Own Fate.” In Readings on Sophocles, edited by Don Nardo. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press

    Read More

  • Oedipus the King: Pride and Determination

    532 Words  | 2 Pages

    Oedipus’ personality clearly reflects pride and determination throughout the play. When Oedipus heard the oracles’ prediction that he was to kill his father and marry his mother, he was determined to prevent the prophecy. Therefore he left his homeland of Corinth never to return. Then when he solved the Sphinx’s riddle, Oedipus’ pride rose to a new level. He was praised by the people of Thebes, resulting in his marriage to Jocasta, Queen of Thebes. Oedipus also shows his determination when in search of Laius’ murderer. He stated that he would avenge the King’s death as if Laius were his own father. He cursed the murderer, announcing “May he drag out an evil death-in-life in misery.” These characteristics of pride and determination, which Oedipus emanates throughout the play, may appear to be positive attributes to one’s personality. However, Oedipus’ actions, based on these characteristics, are what led him to his eventual downfall and suffrage.

    Read More

  • Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Power of Fate

    447 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Greek tragedy Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, was written to show the common people of Greece how powerful the gods are and that your fate is pre-determined and nothing you do can change that. He does this by showing how people in this story try to escape their fate and how it is no use because in the end, what the oracles predict comes true. In the story there are many occasions in which people try to escape their fate.

    Read More

  • Oedipus the King: Free Will or Fate?

    617 Words  | 2 Pages

    A common debate that still rages today is whether we as a species have free will or if some divine source, some call it fate, controls our destiny. The same debate applies to Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus. Does Oedipus control his actions, or are they predetermined by the gods? It’s that question that makes Oedipus a classic, and many different people think many different things.

    Read More

  • Destiny, Fate, and Free Will in Oedipus the King

    716 Words  | 2 Pages

    Some people say that there is no way to control your own life, that your life has been planned out for you ahead of time and there is nothing you can do to escape this fate. Others believe that your life is a matter of choice, and what happens to you during your life is a result of your actions. The story of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles seems to prove truth in both of these statements, that there is a life predetermined for you yet you can alter your life, but you can not escape your prophecy. The quote "I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul," by William Henley states just the opposite of what seems to be proven in Oedipus Rex. Because of the references in the story of Oedipus, I disagree with the quote made by William Henley.

    Read More

  • Oedipus: Do Not Try to Control Your Fate

    1063 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Every man has his own destiny: the only imperative is to follow it, to accept it, no matter where it leads him.” In other words, the connotation of this anonymous quote states that despite whatever one chooses to decide, the outcome of their choices and decisions will still result to their predetermined fate. Sophocles’ tragedy, Oedipus the King, demonstrates this statement throughout the play in the role of his tragic hero Oedipus. In the course of Oedipus’ actions of trying to escape his predestined fortune, his fate and flaws of being human played major roles to bring about his downfall.

    Read More

  • Oedipus Fate And Fate

    992 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...ir own storyline of life, a life that already has a written ending and that is destine already to you. By the end of the play the audience is left with two facts, Oedipus fate is destine for downfall, and indeed Oedipus does fulfill his destiny. Nevertheless, the truth of the situation is that the path in which Oedipus’ ultimately takes is what leads him to fulfill the prophecy. If the audience choose to see the play from this prospective, then Oedipus’ the king will become much more significant, by doing so, giving the play a far better interpretation. Although Sophocles never clearly mentions in the play that Oedipus fate is due to his poor choices, the suggestion of the storyline is full with indication that the only person responsible for his own fate is Oedipus himself. Through his play Oedipus the King, Sophocles demonstrates to his audience the outcome of

    Read More

  • Destiny, Fate, and Free Will in Oedipus the King

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    In today's society we let our lives be led by a certain force that we believe in very strongly. Yet, a common debate that still rages today is whether we, as a species, have free will or if some divine source, some call it fate, controls our destiny. In the play, Oedipus the King, that special force is also used and is known and defined as fate. This played an important role in the lives of the characters just as it plays one in our daily lives.

    Read More

  • Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Power of Prophecy

    991 Words  | 2 Pages

    The underlying theme in Oedipus Rex is that fate is more powerful than free will. On this strong basis of fate, free will doesn't even exist. This was a popular belief among the ancient Greeks.  Fate may be accepted or denied by modern society, but in Oedipus's story, fate proves inevitable. In the play, Oedipus Rex, the characters Oedipus, Iocaste and Laios try to change fate.

    Read More

  • The Role of Fate in Oedipus Rex

    809 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Oedipus Rex, fate is something that unavoidably befalls two characters. The gods decide Oedipus and Jocasta’s fate, even before they know it. Trying to avoid destiny is pointless because no matter what, it will catch up to you wherever you are. It is often thought that you can change your destiny, but in reality our fate was put into action the day we were born. Throughout the play, Oedipus tries to change his fate.

    Read More

More about Oedipus The King Fate Vs Free Will

Open Document