Oedipus Tyrannus By Aeschylus: Play Analysis

The Greeks believed in the idea of the three Fates. People could learn their fates or the future if they visited a priestess of Apollo, especially at Delphi. The plays Oedipus Tyrannus by Sophocles and Agamemnon by Aeschylus, tell the stories of certain Greek myths that deal with the idea of escaping fate. It is clear that the Greeks did not believe that destiny could be escaped. Both Oedipus and Cassandra knew of their future and wished to escape their fates, but ultimately the prophecies still came true. However, while the characters did not know what actions would result in their fates coming true, they still had the power to make the choices that would lead to their prophecies. The play of Oedipus Tyrannus by Sophocles begins with the city of Thebes being struck by plagues. The oracle at Delphi is inquired which states that the murderer of the previous king, Laius, resides in the city and that is why Thebes is being punished. The current king, Oedipus, vows that he will do anything to bring the

However, these people had the power to make choices, and they let their flaws rule their lives, driving them to their terrible fates. In reality, there are no oracles to seers that can tell the future. People do not know what will happen, but every choice is still different. For Oedipus, he made the choice to run from Corinth, which led him to his fate. Had he stayed in Corinth, he might not have killed Laius and married Jocasta. For Cassandra, she made the choice to enter the house where she would be killed. Had see decided to flee, she might have lived. Her life would be hard as a foreign woman in ancient Greece, but she still had the choice. Prophecies do not determine the future. The actions that people take, make the prophecies come true, and it is impossible to know which actions will lead to which prophecy, but the choices are still