The Importance Of Fate In Oedipus Rex, By Sophocles

In Oedipus Rex, there is nowhere for Oedipus to go but down. The active, decisive part of his life has already happened and is recounted in the play through flashbacks; now, however, there is nothing Oedipus can do about his own fate. He has already killed his father and had four children with his mother, and there is absolutely no way to change that. For that reason, there is a dreadful sense of the unavoidability of fate. Oedipus' parents tried to get away from it but obviously failed miserably; so did Oedipus. their efforts at tricking fate only succeeded in creating the very circumstances they were trying to avoid. There is really no free will or choice, because in a way, their choices are fated to lead them, in the end, to exactly what they think they are avoiding. The line uttered by Creon, "You can not judge unless you know the facts" (28) is telling. No one can judge correctly unless he has all the information; however, no one in this play has enough information to make a correct choice when it matters. Laius does not know that his son survived, so he thinks he is safe from his fate; in fact, by sending his son away, he deprives Oedipus of true knowledge of who his parents are and thus of the ability to make an effective decision himself about his fate. Without sufficient information, informed judgment is impossible, and this contributes to

From the very beginning of this story it is evident that the character wanted everything their way. King Laius not only tried to change his own fate but he also tried changing his own son’s fate by trying to kill him. Before Oedipus was even born he tried to change his fate because he was so reluctant to allowing his own son to kill him. It is so selfish to want to kill your own son. He didn’t even think that maybe he can change this prediction in other ways.

Whether it be paper or plastic or picking colleges, humans go through many choices, both big and small throughout their lifetime. In addition, these choices can determine the overall outcome of fate, dependent on if these people practice a religion and what religion that they practice. Various pieces of literature take this common concept of fate versus choice and utilize it as a manner to help advance the plot. One of Sophocles’ greek tragedies, Oedipus the King, does an excellent job in articulating the role of fate versus choice in literature. Oedipus the King integrates both faith and choice, however choice is heavily superseded by fate.

In the play, Oedipus the King by Sophocles, Oedipus becomes more self-aware throughout the play as he learns the truth about his fate. As a young child Oedipus has a prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother, when he comes of age he leaves his parents in fear he will fulfill the prophecy. Though he doesn't know he was given away when he was a baby. A terrible plague has struck Oedipus's city, Thebes. After Creon, Oedipus righthand man, comes back from visiting Apollo, Oedipus learns what must happen for his city to be saved from the plague. He must find the killer of Laius, the former king of Thebes, who is in the city. Oedipus desperate for answers calls on Tiresias, the blind prophet. While talking to Tiresias, Oedipus

Fate exists as a common theme amongst Greek tragedies while the use of prophecy brings it to life. The prevalent use of fate and prophecy throughout Greek works like Homer’s Odyssey, Aeschylus’s Agamemnon, and Euripides’s Phoenician Women, suggests a considerable amount of significance within the Greek world. In this case, the utilization of these two major themes provokes an argument when specifically delving into Fitts and Fitzgerald’s translation of Sophocles Oedipus Rex. The reason fate and prophetic downfalls are more salient in Oedipus Rex is because it is the primary cause for Oedipus and Jocasta’s tragic flaw; Oedipus possesses the need to control and defy his fate while Jocasta progressively struggles to avoid the truth. Oedipus Rex asks whether knowing one’s fate makes it so or if fate is pre-ordained no matter what level of knowledge is obtained; Oedipus and Jocasta represents these ideas respectively. Ultimately, both characters followed a faulty path and fulfilled the tragedy.

Laius was fated to die at the hand of his own son, whether Oedipus had any intention to kill his father. Even if Oedipus had known Laius was his father, it would not have prevented Laius' death. It was

Far too often, people find that despite their best efforts, life counteracts their intentions. It seems as though every person has had their moments of true powerlessness and helplessness, as their fate appeared to be in the hands of someone else. Thousands of years ago, in Ancient Greece, a potent belief in fate existed, and is even depicted in one of history’s most infamous plays, Oedipus Rex. In this play, Sophocles depicts the cruelty and strength of destiny through the terrible tale that is Oedipus’ life. Oedipus deems himself a “child of fortune” after the most grueling truths of his fate are revealed, as Oedipus realizes he truly had no command over his destiny. In Oedipus Rex, Sophocles poses an eternal question about destiny: What

Oedipus Rex and The Kite Runner are both profound works of literature that share two immensely universal themes, those themes being fate/free will and divine justice. The stated themes are quite prominent throughout both pieces of writing and serve to facilitate a very human connection between the audience and the story. Although both of these stories consist of the two themes mentioned, they each express them in a unique fashion. Oedipus Rex focuses more so on the concept of fate, whereas The Kite Runner emphasizes the concept of free will. This contrast of theme utilization is also present regarding the theme of divine justice and is intrinsic to the theme of fate and free will. Oedipus receives divine justice through the cruel process of fate, whereas Amir receives and delivers divine justice through the process of self-determination. Oedipus’ seemingly inescapable downfall is what defines him as a character of fate.

Play's characters such as Creon and Tiresias refuse to let him know and try to stop his journey to his destiny (Fate and Free-Will in Sophocles' Oedipus the King). However, Oedipus's honest character enables the desire for truth, leading to his downfall by pushing him to continue his search. He actually has the capability to discontinue his plight, (Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Free Will) however he make an independent decision to continue (Fate and Free-Will in Sophocles' Oedipus the King). It can also be fate because of his honest character given by god.

Fate is an unavoidable force that controls life. Oedipus Rex by Sophocles is a Greek tragedy about Oedipus finding the truth about his origin, while also trying to save the city of Thebes from a terrible plague. Oedipus unknowingly ends up killing his father and marrying his mother. When the truths about his sins are discovered, Oedipus blinds himself and exiles himself from Thebes. Oedipus ultimately could not control fate. Oedipus could not control the fate of citizens of Thebes as a king, he could not control his children's’ fate as a father, and he could not control his own fate as a strong individual.

Speaking of choice, one of the larger factors to Oedipus fate in the story is his father’s initial actions. “It all started when King Laius decided to consult the Oracle at Delphi to learn if he and his wife would ever have children.” (“Oedipus”, Greek Mythology) a summary of Oedipus says. “To avoid the prophecy, Laius told his servants to pierce the baby's ankles…then gave the baby to one of their shepherds, telling him to leave the baby in the mountains to die.” (“Oedipus”, Greek Mythology). He immediately tries to escape his prophecy, an example of how free will can be confused with fate. Rather than accept it, or worry for that of his son’s, he is selfish and makes a rather harsh decision. Of course, fate takes its role and the baby does not die, but this little detail of the story shows readers how fate takes things into its own hands, and that despite Laius’ efforts, it wins. He cannot control it, and neither can Oedipus.

A motif in Oedipus Rex is the matter of fate and the amount of control that the characters have over their own. Fate, when used as a noun, is defined as events beyond a person's control, usually developed by supernatural beings. I think Sophocles’s work misused the word “fate”. Throughout this work, I believe the characters were trying to reconstruct their future, not their fate, since it’s inhumanly possible to do so even for the Greeks. Sophocles does demonstrate the human desire to control their future and ultimately accept the consequences through three characters; Oedipus, Jocasta and King Laius.

In Oedipus the king the Prophets tells Oedipus about how his life will pan out and that there is nothing that he can do about it. Oedipus, however thinks he can prove them wrong being the self righteous person that he is. He believes that fate is not real and that it's all about free will and individual decisions that lead to and determine the future. Oedipus is wrong for thinking that he can change his fate because the world is controlled by fate not free will.

“What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate.” This becomes true when regarding any situation which life presents itself, and the losers ultimately spend their days wallowing in their grief as they realize how they mishandled their fate. The same is true in Oedipus Rex, when the tragic hero, Oedipus, attempts to change his fate, but only ends up fulfilling it and causing more destruction than foretold. In the tragic play, Oedipus Rex, Sophocles demonstrates Oedipus attempting to alter his fate, but backfires and becomes the onset for traumatic experiences.

The Golden age lasted from 430 B.C. to 400 B.C. which was an era of prosperity in Greece. During this time a famous Greek writer was coming to fame, the writer of Oedipus Rex, Sophocles. Sophocles is one of the most influential writers of his time. While not all may agree, the plays during this time carved the future for centuries to come even today they are influencing the youths of society. As many youths in high school or college will study this play or one like it, this will allow for the culture of 1000s of years ago to be evaluated on a deeper level. Oedipus Rex is a classic Greek drama and in many Greek dramas hubris plays a key role but so does fate. So is it the fault of fate or of the protagonist’s hubris? With the context of the time period and looking at it with the perspective of the intended audience it is clear that fate has control with the presence of gods and prophecies.