How Does Oedipus Disagrees With His Fate

Thomas Mann of Brookings Institutions writes that, “in addition to the decline in competition, American politics today is characterized by a growing ideological polarization between the two major parties”. In addition to his opinion, political data has shown that political polarization is increasing and is more readily seen in the way the American government functions in the political sphere. In an article by the University of Rochester’s Campus Times they wrote “In 1950, the American Political Science Association’s Committee on Political Parties wrote a report called “Toward a More Responsible Two-Party System.” The report said that party leadership in Congress was far too lenient when it came to dissent within the party ranks, allowing members’ difference in positions to not be as important as they should. They said that in order for there to be a healthier democracy in the US, the country needed cohesive, top-down parties with clear agendas that can be carried out when in the majority. It also needed a cohesive minority party to criticize the majority party and act as an alternative.” While both the Campus Times and Thomas Mann suggest that polarization is somewhat necessary and is increasing, whether or not the necessity or increase is beneficial to American politics and government is debatable. In this paper, I argue that while polarization can be both unbeneficial and beneficial, for the most part is has proven to be unbeneficial for American politics and government.

Mattie Ross, a headstrong and determined fourteen year-old girl, hires Rooster Cogburn, a filthy beer-bellied U.S. Marshal, to help her on her pursuit to find and capture Tom Chaney, the killer of Mattie's father. Set in the 19th century Old West and based upon the novel by Charles Portis, the film follows Mattie, Cogburn, and Texas Ranger LeBoeuf on their journey through the Indian Territory to find Chaney and bring him to justice.

He was so scared of the prophecy that he ran away from his adoptive parents. His biological parents could have kept him instead of being so fearful that they had to give him away. Oedipus was given up for fear of the prophecy becoming true. Oedipus told Jocasta that he thinks the prophecy isn't real. Oedipus exclaimed, “Aha, my wife!

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

Oedipus tells Jocasta that “he left for a place where he would not be able to fulfill his fate” (Line 773-774). In thinking that he could no longer kill his father and marry his mother, Oedipus had left the place from where he grew up and went directly to the place he was born in and his real parents. Oedipus learns of his father’s death and says, “He lies deep, deep within the earth, while I am here, not having touched my sword” (Line 922-923). Oedipus believes that since his father is dead then the prophecy can no longer be fulfilled. Oedipus’ mother remains alive and to be sure that the prophecy is not accomplished he doesn’t want to return to his mother.

The affairs in Oedipus the King, authored by Sophocles, show a relentless desire to discover the truth around Laius’ murder and the question neighboring his own birth, force him to the awful realization of his dreadful deeds. Oedipus’s pride depicts the distrust in the gods and the expedition for the truth, leave the king restless. The idea of fate and free-will which the Greeks believed to guide everything in creation to a balanced direction. The choices a manmade was simply accountable for his own actions. The concept of both fate and free-will play a extensive role in Oedipus’s destruction. Even Though, Oedipus was the sufferer of his fate, his intentions were

Fate Is Stronger Than You Think You kill your father and marry your mother. You’re just like Oedipus Rex. He tried to escape his fate by leaving Corinth, where he grew up, by traveling to Thebes. But little does he know that Thebes is where he is truly from. After fleeing Corinth by virtue of Oedipus’ fate to kill his father and marry his mother, he winds up at a crossroad where he kills a man out of anger.

The prophecy scared him, because he did not want to fulfill it by being a murderer and did not want sexual relations with his mother. While fleeing Corinth a caravan blocked his path. He was angered with the caravan, because they tried to force him off the road. He killed the group of strangers except for the Sheppard. Oedipus enters Thebes as a stranger, to escape his prophecy and make a new life for himself.

In the play, “Oedipus Rex”, many ironies took place, as well as fate playing a huge part in the story. “Oedipus Rex” is a story about a man that tries to overcome adversity but cannot escape his prophecy. His parents took him to a hillside as an infant, sliced his Achilles tendons and left him there. A shepherd soon came to his rescue. “King and Queen of Thebes, gave their infant to a shepherd in with orders that he be left on the side of the mountainside to die” (Johnson 1205). As he grew older and much wiser, he went to see the Oracle of Delphi. The Oracle informed him that his destiny was to kill his father and marry his mother. The main ironies in the play are the killing of Oedipus’s biological father, the odd relationship with his mother, and the inability of Oedipus to avoid his fate.

Throughout the vast history of literature, various concepts have come and gone. The idea of fate or fatalism has been a concept that has survived the test of time. Numerous characters have succumbed to the power of fate and the character of Oedipus from Sophocles’ Oedipus the King is a prime example of the vast power of fate within literature. Sophocles effectively depicts the wrath of fate as he portrays how Oedipus fell victim to fate and his efforts to disregard fate were futile. Once again fate manages to triumph and displays no character whether king or slave can avoid its gaze.

With a prophecy hanging over Oedipus’ head, his fate was already in place. Portrayed as a good person, Oedipus had no control over what he would do in his life, but he tried to overcome the prophecy, he defended himself, as anyone would, and he blinded and exiled himself for the people of Thebes.

Escaping fate is something that no human on this earth can do. No one can escape it. For an example, trying to escape death. No matter how much a person diets, or exercise, or even doing the things the doctors told them to be healthy, everyone’s fate is to die one day. Dealing with the story Oedipus, it is based off of his fate and how it will be effecting others around him.

Everyone has a predestined path for their lives. However, some people think actions can be taken to alter their preordained destinies or their fates. Fate is defined, according to Merriam- Webster, as “the things that will happen to a person or thing: the future that someone or something will have or a power that is believed to control what happens in the future.” An individual’s destiny is a powerful force and ultimately inevitable.

Oedipus learned of the prophecy then ran away from Corinth as he did not wish to harm his adoptive parents. Oedipus tells of the time he went to the a shrine to ask if Polybus and Merope were really his parents, he said, “I went to the shrine of Delphi/the god dismayed my question/he spoke of other things/full of wretchedness/that I should lie with my own mother, breed/and that I should be my father's murder/I heard all this, and fled” (1.2.261-68). When Oedipus went to ask of his parents he insead learned that he was fated to kill his own father and breed with his mother,

In Oedipus the King by Sophocles, Oedipus is responsible for the tragedy of his downfall. Oedipus is presented with a series of choices throughout the play, and his arrogant and stubborn nature push him to impulsively make the wrong decisions, the decisions that ultimately lead him to his downfall. While Oedipus and those around him consider "fate" the source of Oedipus' problems, Oedipus' decisions show the audience that it is he who is responsible.