Understanding Fate in Oedipus Tyrannos

Equally important to the role of fate in bringing about the downfall of Oedipus is the human flaw of arrogance that clouded Oedipus’ intellect to reason. One can ultimately see this human flaw in the beginning of the play as he says “Here I am myself – you all know me, the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus” (p 262, line 7-9). One day Oedipus heard someone say that he wasn’t his father’s son in which bothered him greatly and triggered his curiosity in whether Polybus and Merope were his biological parents. So, as a way to figure out his identity and true origins, he left to Delphi to see the Oracle. However, instead of answering Oedipus’ answer of who his true parents were, the Oracle told him of his fate that “You are fated to couple with your mother, you will bring a breed of children into the light no man can bear to see – you will kill your father the one who gave you life” (p. 297, lines 873-875). Hence, his arrogance is clearly showed as he disregards the prophecy, similar to the actions of Laius and Jocasta by escaping it, as he abandons Corinth and sets forth to a place where he “would never see the shame of all those oracles come true” (p. 297, lines 879-880). His flaw of

Fate is defined as the development of events beyond a person’s control. In “Oedipus the King,” Sophocles, tells us about a tragic hero (Oedipus) in which his life is predetermined by fate, because he is deprived of free will. The first act of fate on Oedipus was him being saved by a shepherd when his parents (Queen Jocasta and King Laius) left him in the mountains to die, he then met and killed his father without knowing who he was, and last, he married Queen Jocasta, later realizing that she was his mother. Every action that Oedipus took to prevent his fate, would soon be the ultimate downfall, not only for himself, but for his family and the people of Thebes.

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.

Are all events predetermined? Does everyone have a prophetic destiny that they must fulfill? If so, who determines their fate? Who—or what—binds them to their fixed ending? Is there really no way to resist? Is fatalism—the theory that all events are preset and inevitable—true? And if it is—is there ever such a thing as free will?

Oedipus’ destiny or fate had little to do with his downfall. The prophet told Oedipus that he was destined to kill his father and marry his mother, but the prophet never mentioned Oedipus murdering Laius on the highway, or solving the Sphinx’s riddle, or accepting and taking advantage of his kingship. Oedipus blinding himself was an example of free will, “for he removed from…[Jocasta’s] garment the golden brooches which she was wearing…” by choice “…and struck the sockets of his own eyes..” blinding himself Free will and hubris, according to the ancient Greeks, were separate from unavoidable fate. Oedipus’s fate was to kill his father and marry his mother. However, everything else, including fleeing Corinth, solving the Sphinx’s riddle, and finally pursuing the truth about his life, was by his own free will, a direct result of his ego and pride. Oedipus Rex is a story about the dangers of pride and arrogance, one teaching about the importance of humility and tolerance, and one stressing about the control of hubris, a potentially perilous quality that destroyed Oedipus’s vision and his life.

Let’s start out with Oedipus, according to our text book, Living Theatre, it states, “Sophocles’s King Oedipus, which was first presented around 430 B.C.E. There are structural similarities among all extant Greek tragedies.” (Wilson 38). If there ever was a story that epitomized the definition of a Greek Tragedy. Granted yes, it was a very powerful and depressing, it has many themes that are relatable for today’s world and society. For example, at the end of the play, Oedipus is down on his luck, Oedipus found out who is father and mother was from the Oracle. Lo and behold, the oracle was right, he said that he would murder his father, who was Laius, former king of Thebes and the gods said in order to bring back the once prosperous kingdom of Thebes, they must banish the murderer of the former king. The other prophecy was that he would marry his mother. Well, he speaks to the

Oedipus the King is the dramatic tale of a great king brought down by “fate” and by the destiny of the gods. Another aspect of many Greek tales was the use of divine intervention, the use of oracles to see the future. The Greeks were big believers of fate, being that every man’s destiny was woven since his birth by the three fates. Oedipus is one of many Greek stories that have used fate to either bring the hero’s downfall or begin the hero’s rise. In Oedipus’ case, he sealed his own fate unknowingly killing his own father. His parents left him to die in the woods as an infant but fate was kind to Oedipus. A shepherd found him and took him to King Polybus who raised him like his own son, and poor Oedipus,

Oedipus, a play written by Sophocles, has become a staple in the study of a Tragic hero in classic literature. When this was written in the fifth century, theatre was more than a means of entertainment but almost a religious event. Robert Fagles goes even further by saying that”theatre was not only a religious festival; it was also an aspect of the city’s political life.” (Fagles) . Greek dramas were presented only twice a year during religious festivals that honored Dionysus, the god of wines and crops. The quality and message of the plays reflected the religious and social importance of the time. Sophocles, born around 496 B.C., was not only a very successful tragic playwright but also a priest, and for a short time, a general in the army. His unique and well rounded background gave him a perspective on life that other may not have seen. Out of the one hundred and twenty plays that Sophocles wrote only seven survived in their original full condition. Oedipus the King, and Oedipus at Colonus were two of the tragic works that survived. The fact that Oedipus survived allowed it to become one of the most important works that Sophocles produced. The plot and characterization of the main character have allowed it to stand the test of time. If one wants to study Greek, tragic literature, Oedipus is certainly a play that should be considered as a classic piece of work. . Perhaps that is because the main character of Oedipus clearly defines what a tragic hero is by his

Ancient Greece was renowned for its classical tragedies, the most famous probably being Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, or Oedipus Rex. For a play to be considered a tragedy, it must have a tragic hero. According to Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero, they must be a decent moral person, of high social standing who eventually meets with a tragic downfall, of their own doing, suffering more than deserved, and realizing their error too late. In the play Oedipus the King, Oedipus is the epitome of a tragic hero.

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.

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.

I think for Oedipus to receive this fate or prophecy may not have been fair. He probably did not think so either but during that time if you were given a prophecy, that was your fate and you had to accept it. I think that for him to receive this fate he must have done something to deserve it, although his parents received this prophecy before Oedipus was born. Then again fate is fate, and the gods are the gods, they are all powerful and what they say, goes. If I had received this fate and was in Oedipus’s situation I would have told my parents hoping there could be some mistake or a way they could help me to get through it. If Oedipus had have done this his parents may have told him the truth of his birth. To avoid this certain fate he would

Oedipus fell victim to the chaotic brainstorming set forth by fate. Predisposed destiny cannot be altered, no matter who it affects. In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Oedipus murdered his father, fathered his own siblings, and married his own mother. The crazy sequence that occurred for those events to line up called for some tremendous destiny and will, apart from the one of Oedipus. The tragedy that happens to Oedipus is the result of a calamitous inevitable destined purpose.

In antiquated Greek drama, tragedy plays had a way of appealing to the audience effortlessly. Greek tragedies are still performed and read across the world in modern-day. Oedipus Rex, a standout amongst the popular tragedies, is written by Sophocles. Within every tragedy play, one character takes the role of a grievous or tragic hero. As stated by Aristotle, certain attributes characterize a deplorable legend or a tragic hero. In Oedipus Rex, the fundamental character, Oedipus, carries imperfections as well as inevitable fate much like a tragic hero.

In the tragedy of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, a man pursues the truth to his identity and suffers a terrible Fate. The citizens of Thebes are begging king Oedipus for help. King Oedipus has previously dealt with the Sphinx and he has sent Creon to the oracle of Delphi to get help from Apollo. Therefore when Creon returns from Delphi he reports that the oracle wants Thebes to find the former king's murderer. Soon after that Oedipus seeks help from a blind seer named Tiresias. Finally Oedipus gets told that he is the wound of Thebes and that he is the killer of the former king. Next Oedipus reacts to this by accusing Creon of treason. So then Oedipus complains to Jocosta about Creon plotting treason and Jocasta tries to calm him down by telling him that oracles could be false.