Run Lola Run Essay

Government and its policies have always challenged the debate of the governing factor in our universe, fate or free will. In ancient times, monarchs were believed to have been given a divine will to rule and exert laws, as if their path had been predestined. However, as kingship fell out of influence, our government has considered itself, “by the people.” Modern issues, such as the controversy over the National Minimum Drinking Age, raise questions on the effects of free will and fate, and the association between the two. Viewing this specific contention through the context of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King and Tom Tykwer’s thriller Run Lola Run we can speculate about the role of determinism and free will in our lives.

Alcohol consumption has been a salient, controversial issue in America, since colonization. In the 1800s and early 1900s, the issue of morality drove opponents of alcohol consumption, leading to the first legislation concerning the minimum legal drinking age. More recently, the drinking age came under scrutiny in the 1960s, as the Vietnam War reintroduced the draft into American society. Due to the passage

of the twenty-sixth amendment, which lowered the minimum voting age from twenty-one to eighteen, many states, in turn, lowered their minimum legal drinking age from twenty-one to eighteen. Many supporters believed that at the age of eighteen, when one can vote and serve in the military, one should be able to purchase and consume alcohol legally. Under the influence of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, (MADD) Senator Frank Lautenberg composed national legislation to raise the minimum drinking age. Studies had indicated that the lowered MLDA contributed to the rise of fatal motor vehicle accidents. Thus, the 1984 National Minimum Drinking Age Act obliges that states must prohibit a person under the age of twenty-one from purchasing or possessing alcoholic beverages, as a condition of collecting federal highway funds.
Although enacted with worthy intention, increasing the legal drinking age to twenty one has, subsequently, led to many negative issues in society. Foremost, this law has made a major impact on college campuses. Prohibiting young adults from drinking in bars, restaurants, and other licensed facilities, have caused eighteen to twenty year olds to drink in unsupervised locations. This age group is more prone to binge drinking at fraternity houses and house parties. The Amethyst Initiative, an organization of college presidents in the United States, was established to rally support for altering the minimum drinking age. This initiative, which has stated, “Alcohol education that mandates abstinence as the only legal option has not resulted in significant constructive behavioral change among our students,” () is now supported by over 130 university presidents. Further, many argue that lowering the minimum age to eighteen will normalize the activity of alcohol consumption in society. It will curb the thrill of drinking merely to break the law. Finally, others add practical reasons, such as greater amounts of tax revenue and that all adults should have the right to make their own decisions about alcohol consumption. Opposition to the new minimum legal drinking age has been present and increasing. And, bills have been proposed in many state legislatures to change the legal minimum drinking age. Connection Sentence
Oedipus, the tragic hero of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, is marked with a horrific fate. He was destined to kill his father, and later marry his mother. Even when Jocasta denies the fate of her son, she cites a fulfilled prophecy, “An oracle Once came to Laius one fine day...it declared that doom would strike him down at the hands of a son, our son...But Laius, so the report goes at least, was killed by strangers, thieves...There, you see...My baby no more murdered his father than Laius suffered” (Sophocles, 784-795). Prophecy foretold that the son of Laius would fulfill the legacy, whom which thousands of years later, Sigmund Freud would coin a disputed psychological study after. Fate may be a player in the game of politics. Sophocles, an ancient writer, believed that destiny played a large role in life, and would probably argue, in government affairs today. It may have been inevitable that studies in the United States substantiated that an increase in motor vehicle fatalities was a result of a minimum legal drinking of eighteen. Whereas, many countries with a MLDA of eighteen boast fewer drunk driving traffic accidents. Further, young people may have been predestined to misuse alcohol, causing the revaluation of the drinking age. Addiction is increasingly thought of as a disease, in which some are more susceptible than others. But, like Oedipus, government and constituents retain free will to act. Oedipus’ character and behavior contribute to his ultimate punishment.
As Oedipus is a tragic hero, his character and actions contribute to his overall situation. Although Oedipus was predestined to act in such a way, he took advantage of his little freedom and free will. He was free to search for the truth, about himself, the gods, prophecies, etc. Also, he acted freely in his decision to blind himself, instead of committing suicide. Once it becomes clear the true story of Oedipus’ birth, the young man presses on. In his introduction, Bernard Knox writes, “... of this freedom he makes full use. Against the advice and appeals of others, he pushes on, searching for the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth” (Knox, 153). As Oedipus maintained the power to search for knowledge, we have the power to seek knowledge and, thus, a solution to this issue. We retain ability to make choices and act consciously. Winston Churchill once said, “I never worry about action, but only inaction” (). Further, those who misuse drugs may be influenced by fate or biological predispositions. But, there are extensive networks and programs, dedicated to rehabilitation and curbing addiction. Next, it is human makeup to engage in impulsive, irrational decisions at a young age, as it is now known that the brain does not mature until one is in his/her early twenties.
We do not act in the spirit of Oedipus, as we falter in our search for knowledge, but we have acted impulsively. In Thebes, he rules with purpose, but also impulsion. The beginning of Oedipus the King, Oedipus exerts his position regarding the unknown murderer of the previous king. He seeks to condemn the man, as the state cannot improve without avenging the murder of Laius. He advises his citizens to denounce the murderer, “never make him partner to your prayers, you victims burned to the gods. Never let the holy water touch his hands. Drive him out, each of you, from every home...” (Sophocles, 172). But, Oedipus was indeed the assassin he sought. He is urged by several, including the prophets, to not announce his convictions to the people of Thebes. Thus, he shows us that rash actions, that seem to be appropriate, can ultimately lead to harmful consequences. We decided to adopt a law in which seemed to be a safe alternative, but we failed to recognize the fundamental problems with alcohol in our society.
Run Lola Run, a German thriller, follows a woman and her attempt to collect 100,000 marks for her boyfriend. The story follows Lola, as she makes three different, twenty-minute, “runs” in an attempt to save Manni’s life. Similarly to Oedipus, Run Lola Run, in its exploration of free will vs. determinism, supports the compatibilist view. In her third run, Lola obtains the marks at a roulette table. She made a conscious decision to enter the casino, yet, it seems fate is a factor in her receiving inconceivable chances. This philosophy holds that free will can coexist with determinism, without being inconsistent or illogical. Government policies a
Without purpose, Lola alters the direction of citizens’ lives, those in which she encounters.

Lola’s fleeting interactions with others illustrates the butterfly effect, in which small, insignificant change at one point in time can have a large effect later. Just as Lola’s brief encounters with others greatly affect these various characters lives, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act has led to many unforeseen consequences. American news is full of reports and stories of the growing uneasiness of life on college campuses. Lowering the drinking age would be a solution to this problem. Parties would be much safer, as they could be regulated and registered. Decisions, thus, can affect fate and subsequent actions. Government policies may seem insignificant and beneficial, but cause negative effects in the long run and great alterations in the

future.
As it holds in the works of Oedipus and Run Lola Run, fate may play a role in our existence. Complete determinism is not valid. Decisions are not final, and fate is not always the cause of downfall. Actions, decided by free will, affect subsequent actions and may alter the way we view arguments. As Oedipus enlightens us, the power to search for knowledge and truth is a fundamental free will. Knowledge is a major aspect of constructing policy. Some information, like the origin of Oedipus, may be difficult, but under our will to ascertain. Next, many actions that seem inconsequential, force a deep butterfly effect. Lola’s ephemeral concurrence with outsiders leads to significant changes in these people’s lives. We see this effect in government policy, as increasing the drinking age contributes to, not ameliorating safety, but problematic culture.