Destiny Vs. Free Will In Sophocles Oedipus The King

Fate vs Free Will as it relates to the character Oedipus OR Adam and Eve. Consider: behavior, outcomes, how the choices were made, or were the choices made for them?

Determinism is based off this notion that all events are pre-determined, without influence by 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 is apparent that free will can be exercised in a meaningful way.

Oedipus journey in search of Laius’ murderer has merely helped the prophecy become reality. His ignorance, pride and remorseless quest for the truth ultimately contributed to his destruction. An explicit example can be seen when Oedipus was told (after threatening Tiresias), that he was responsible for Laius’ murder. Oedipus became enraged and called the blind prophet a liar. Oedipus thought he could overcome the gods, but in fact, his every action moved him closer to his destiny.

Oedipus the King by Sophocles is the story of a man who was destined to kill his father and marry his mother. The story continues in the tradition of classic Greek plays, which were based upon the Greeks’ beliefs at the time. The ancient Greeks believed that their gods decided what would ultimately happen to each and every person. Since those gods destined Oedipus to kill his father and marry his mother, Oedipus’ life was definitely fated. However, the gods only decided where Oedipus’ life would eventually lead; they never planned the route he would take to get there. All the decisions that Oedipus made in order to fulfill his destiny, and the decisions he made after the fact, were of his own free will,

Oedipus is a man of unflagging determination and perseverance, but one who must learn through the working out of a terrible prophecy that there are forces beyond any man’s conceptualization or control. Oedipus’ actions were determined before his birth, yet Oedipus’ actions are entirely determined by the Gods who control him completely. In the beginning of this tragedy, Oedipus took many actions leading to his own downfall. He tried to escape Corinth when he learned of the prophecies that were supposed to take place in his life. Instead, he

Throughout the play, Oedipus goes to Tiresias, Jocasta, Creon, The Messenger, The Oracle, and The Shepherd for information regarding his life. Each character in one way or another refused to give him the answers he seeked to know. As Oedipus got closer to the answer, another character tried to put a stop in his journey. Oedipus continues moving forward even though people requested that he didn’t. “Oh no, listen to me, i beg you, don’t do this…..Listen to you? No more. I must know it all, see the truth at last” (Sophocles 195). His desire for the truth kept him going to continue his search to find himself, leading to his downfall. Although he had the capability to discontinue the plight, he made the independent decision to continue.

Sophocles shows throughout the play, Oedipus the King, that fate triumphs over free will. This is presented by situational irony, the blind seer, and pathos. The following are examples that show this idea through the three literary terms mentioned. Situational irony plays a big role in how Sophocles displays fate in the play. An example of situational irony representing fate is when Oedipus promises to get rid of whoever murdered King Laius, but it was actually Oedipus himself who was the murderer.

Oedipus seems solve problems with rash and close minded solutions. This can be seen when Oedipus, no matter what the consequences, insists on knowing his true origin even after Jocasta pleads him to stop questioning the messenger: "For god's love, let us have no more questioning! Is your life nothing to you?" (1005-1006). "However base my birth, I must know about it." replies Oedipus (1024). Since Oedipus did not stop to consider what might be revealed in his past, he obtained all knowledge and fell from his high pedestal.  When Oedipus was living in Corinth with his supposed parents a soothsayer told him that his destiny was to murder his father and marry his mother. Stricken with fear, Oedipus considered only one solution to

In “Oedipus,” Sophocles writes about a man who is hunted down by his cruel fate, and whose life is ruined in attempt to run away from it. The ancient Greek perspective reflects on the matter of the story and how the god’s highly influence the lives of humans. This viewpoint basically shows the unbounded power the Greek gods have; by being the gods of destiny, and leaving man at a helpless position. Fate plays a massive role in the lives of humans and as was believed by the ancient Greeks, their lives were simply directed by a decision of gods and goddesses. Oedipus knew his fate set by a curse cast on him; however, even when being aware it is impossible to escape fate, he still attempted to run away from it. As the play progresses Oedipus begins to understand the unbearable truth as he states “I’ve called down a dreadful curse upon myself,” followed by a response “I simply didn’t know!” (1103). It is the will of the man to realize what is inevitable and what choice is. In the Ancient Greece, Gods were praised and worshiped and any command stated by them is the undecided future. Oedipus acting as a blinded man who did not know of such fact led him to his fate and ironically is what later led him to blind himself (Gould). When Oedipus stabs his eyes out with the

The role of the gods/fate in human affairs is a central theme in most works of literature. In Greek literature, particularly, the will of the gods is commonly attributed to human experiences. In Oedipus the King, for instance, the oracle’s message that Oedipus will kill his father and marry his own mother suggests that he was a puppet in the hands of the gods, who manipulated the events that led to his fall. However, the character’s fate is not entirely attributable to the work of the gods. In the play, Oedipus meets his fate due to his determination to unravel the mysteries surrounding the king’s death, despite warnings by the prophet Tiresias and his wife/mother, and his quest to prove the oracles wrong in their declaration that he is

Do you think your life is already set out for you or its free will and u can decide what happens? The power of acting without the constraint of necessity or fate is free will. Throughout the story Oedipus Rex figured that he could determine his own fate. So obviously Oedipus Rex thought he could control his life with free will. The miserable King Oedipus of Thebes and his woeful story is a rather significant thought experiment for those of us struggling with this “fate or free will” problem.

Oedipus was informed by an oracle that he would be the one to murder his father and marry his mother. It is important to know that Oedipus is a descendant of the first King of Thebes and because of this several of his relatives have met tragic deaths by taking unwarranted actions into their own hands. Before Oedipus was born his father Laius was told by the same oracle not to have any children by his wife Jocasta which he did anyway. This was not a situation that originated with Oedipus; it seems that this type of fate is destined to be intertwined in this family’s bloodline.

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.

When we look at situations that occur in our lives every day, we tend to think that maybe the end result was destined to happen and foreseen many years ago, perhaps even before our birth. Even so, we remain aware of the fact that “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Hence, our actions can have some bearing on our lives, whether the effect is adverse or desirable. Sophocles’ Oedipus the King is a play representing a Greek belief determining the fate of men. The Greeks firmly believe that they are bound to any prophecy made by the gods. With this in mind, one would initially agree that “moira” is solely responsible for determining Oedipus’ fate. However, after a thorough analysis of Oedipus’ character we see how his

Once again Oedipus showed his true character, stubbornness. Oedipus didn't like that the group of men was in his way and killed them all. "I killed them all--every mother's son!" (Sophocles 898). It was his free will, and his stubborn personality that helped this happen. Although his free will was to kill the men, his prophecy was to kill his own father, which is his haunting fate. The stubborn personality of Oedipus would create the correct arrangement of actions that would ultimately deliver his prophecy coming true. Oedipus' personality was the cause of the events. His free will blended in with the fate given to him by the gods. Eventually his fate was