...3. ‘In Oedipus the King, Oedipus suffers because of a fate he cannot avoid rather than because of any errors he has committed.’ How far do you think this is true? (20) Within ‘Oedipus the King’, Oedipus is shown to be a character who suffers from an amalgamation of many different factors which ultimately, drives him to his insanity and his fall from grace. Sophocles presents Oedipus as a character who is essentially, not entirely good but not entirely bad either; he is like many other characters that are faced with a hard-hitting truth in a difficult situation, with a hard decision to make in order to resolve it – and like other characters, Oedipus’ situation was created by past events and fate (divine intervention). However, it could be argued that Oedipus is simply a dramatic tool used by Sophocles to give the audience a cathartic ending (in order for them to think about their lives, the events of the play and the circumstances within Athens at the time) – Oedipus could be seen as a political device used by Sophocles to present his ideas and feelings towards to contemporary Athens and its political situation at the time that the play was being performed. The character of Oedipus could be seen to suffer simply due to that fact that the gods have fated this to happen. Throughout the play, there are several references to fate and divine intervention by the gods which could be seen to influence to outcome of the story; there are many instances in which gods are reference by...
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...Lauren Kane Period 3 January 5, 2012 The Puppet of Fate and Prophecy Fate can be defined in many ways from many different opinions. It can be defined as what one’s actions are or what one’s God has planned for him. Usually, fate is determined beyond one’s control. In the tragic play, Oedipus the King, Oedipus often faces many difficult situations that result in his own suffering. Displaying his harmartia, Oedipus could have used his mental vision and problem solving skills to prevent himself from being turned into a puppet of fate and prophecy. A major motif used to show Oedipus’s will to control his own fate is his blindness. First, Oedipus is not aware of his surroundings. Oedipus does not want to agree with the fact that Tiresias, the blind prophet, tells him he is the killer of Laius. As a result, Oedipus is mentally blind because he is not willing to accept the horrid fact. Another example of Oedipus’s blindness is his kingdom’s plague and downfall. Even though Oedipus’s plan is “to stop the plague” (14) in his city of Thebes, it seems as if he thinks it will just leave one day without him doing anything. If Oedipus had perfect mental vision, he would go out and do something to stop it, not sit around and think about himself. Finally, the last example causing Oedipus to be mentally blind, and therefore controlling his suffering fate, is his hubris, or excess of pride. When Oedipus thinks of himself as a ruler of a corrupted city and supposedly the killer...
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...The ancient Greeks often regard fate as being an influential and powerful factor within their lives. Fate is known as an unchangeable force that shapes the course of events which the Greeks typically define as being the will of the gods, who have ultimate control. In the Greek tragedy Oedipus the King, Sophocles writes about a man who was the victim of such unfortunate fate. Some may argue that as a result of irrational anger and impulsiveness, Oedipus’ tragic flaws, in addition to other decisions he makes throughout the course of his life, Oedipus is a victim of his own hand. However, there are a number of other characters and situations that prove this theory wrong and demonstrate that Oedipus’ tragedy is ultimately a result of fate. Fate...
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...Date: 12/10/08 Title: Oedipus the King: A Story of Fate Thesis: “Oedipus the King” by is generally a story about fate as it deals with its unalterable nature and the consequences that come with the attempt to change it. I. Fate and its Characteristics A. Characteristics of Fate 1. Fate as controlled by external force 2. Insignificance of man in relation to fate B. Fate according to Sophocles 1. Determined nature of fate 2. Freedom of man as manifested through his attitude towards destiny II. Oedipus A. His destiny as determined before his birth 1. The attempt of King Laius and Queen Jocasta to alter his fate 2. The futility of such attempt B. Oedipus’ lack of knowledge as instrumental in determining his fate C. Oedipus’ negative attitude towards his destiny D. Man’s attitude as uncontrolled by fate but possesses the power to influence 1. The role of arrogance and self-confidence in the fulfillment of the prophecy 2. Arrogance as a result of experience 3. Self-confidence as contributed by the people of Thebes 4. Arrogance and self-confidence as his response against fate III. Fate according to Epictetus A. Fate must not be feared and wanted B. Fate must be accepted with grace and dignity C. Fate must be embraced as the will of gods D. Refusal to accept fate results in tragedy Name:...
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...Oedipus the King: Free Will or Fate? A common debate that still rages today is whether we as a species have free will or if some divine source, some call it fate, controls our destiny. The same debate applies to Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus. Does Oedipus control his actions, or are they predetermined by the gods? It’s that question that makes Oedipus a classic, and many different people think many different things. With all the oracles and talk of prophecies, its obvious that there is some divine intervention in Oedipus. But how strong is it, and how much control does Oedipus really have? Fate, or divine will, manifests itself in a number of ways. First, in Oedipus at Colonus, there is the oracle at Delphi that tells Oedipus’s parents and then himself that he will kill his father and marry his mother. It does end up happening, proving divine intervention occurs. Later, the prophet Tiresias tells Oedipus exactly what the oracle did, making himself another example of divine will, that is, the gods speak through him. Divine intervention is abundant in Oedipus at Colonus, too. In it, Oedipus tries to gain sympathy for himself by saying all the sins he committed in the previous play were the work of fate, thus proving the point of divine intervention in Oedipus the King. There are examples of divine intervention that are only in Oedipus at Colonus, like all the prophecies from the oracle. First, it is said that the city Oedipus is buried in will be blessed...
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...Oedipus the King: Free Will or Fate? A common debate that still rages today is whether we as a species have free will or if some divine source, some call it fate, controls our destiny. The same debate applies to Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus. Does Oedipus control his actions, or are they predetermined by the gods? It’s that question that makes Oedipus a classic, and many different people think many different things. With all the oracles and talk of prophecies, its obvious that there is some divine intervention in Oedipus. But how strong is it, and how much control does Oedipus really have? Fate, or divine will, manifests itself in a number of ways. First, in Oedipus at Colonus, there is the oracle at Delphi that tells Oedipus’s parents and then himself that he will kill his father and marry his mother. It does end up happening, proving divine intervention occurs. Later, the prophet Tiresias tells Oedipus exactly what the oracle did, making himself another example of divine will, that is, the gods speak through him. Divine intervention is abundant in Oedipus at Colonus, too. In it, Oedipus tries to gain sympathy for himself by saying all the sins he committed in the previous play were the work of fate, thus proving the point of divine intervention in Oedipus the King. There are examples of divine intervention that are only in Oedipus at Colonus, like all the prophecies from the oracle. First, it is said that the city Oedipus is buried in will be blessed...
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...In Sophocles‘ Oedipus Rex, many mishaps and mistakes troubled the character Oedipus. He was a ruler with a kingdom in distress. As a ruler he promised to his people that he would do whatever he could to help them. However, his name of Oedipus nor the decisions he made ever really helped his people. Oedipus was a man cursed with a fate and remarked that the god Apollo brought his sick fate upon him but the blinding hand was his own. Fate took over Oedipus’ life, but free will led to his destruction. Apollo’s curse and the events of Oedipus’ childhood told his fate. Oedipus’ father, Laios, made the god Apollo very angry and in his anger he placed a curse on him and his family. Oedipus’ life had a path before he was even born. He would kill his father and marry his mother, and Apollo would make sure this happened. When he was born Oedipus made no choices with his free will, but had to suffer from the choices his parents made. As Oedipus grew up and matured he made his own decisions with his own free will, whether they were good or bad. Apollo was always guiding Oedipus to his eventual fate, but Oedipus brought himself down by the choices he made. Misfortune and fate were placed on Oedipus, but his very own mistakes led him to that fate. Oedipus would always try his best to help his people. He was a good king that was always ready to lead his people but at the same time serve them and took decisive actions. The murderer of the former King Laios must be banished from...
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...Dylan Farrell 5/15/17 Mrs. Tapia Oedipus Essay Free will and Fate has been an argument forever now, such as the story of “Oedipus The King” written. Oedipus was expected to live a great life and thought to be worth a lot, however he had no clue about his past. When his realized what his past was, everything went haywire. However the death of the baby was untrue. Oedipus goes through a bunch of coincidences that makes it seems like his life is predetermined and almost impossible. He encounters things like unknowingly marrying his mom, killing his dad, and escaping death at a young age. Jocasta and King Laius had a baby who had a great future and they were very excited to have. This baby would have everything in the world. Money, fame, royalty, anything he wanted could be his. After is his prophecy was told, Laius told Oedipus that he must die. They forced the shepherd to pin his feet and throw him in the mountains. Oedipus ended up not being killed but given to the king and queen of Corinth. Since he was very little at the time Oedipus always thought of them as the biological parents. His whole life was a lie....
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...The Idea of escaping fate is a great way of looking at this text and I feel you make a good argument of Oedipus as a tragic figure. Fate does seem determined to make Oedipus follow the path laid out for him. As you mention, Oedipus is attempting to resist fate. His destiny being revealed to him, he leaves what he believes to be his father and mother never to see them again in an effort to keep the prophecy from coming true. Unfortunately, this action leads Oedipus directly into alignment with the events that would bring about his murdering his true father and having children with his mother. Once your fate is set there is no way out. The tragic part of the text is not necessarily his fate, but how it unfolds. He inadvertently propels...
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...Fate plays a crucial role in both Sophocles's Oedipu Rex and William Shakespeare’s Othello. Oedipus the King and Othello the Moor both experience a catharsis, or emotional downfall, due to fate. Fate is not only a prevalent theme in both works, but a basis of plot as well. Sophocles and Shakespeare both employ elements of fate being influential in their works. Fate in Oedipus Rex does not possess the same meaning as it does in Othello. In Sophocles’s Oedipus Rex, however, fate is depicted as the idea that one’s destiny in predetermined. In Othello, fate pertains to the limit that is placed on the control of one’s own destiny. Fate can be used to show how different authors portray the theme in their work and how each different vision of fate...
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...Merriam Webster defines free will as “the power of acting without the constraint of necessity or fate; the ability to act at one's own discretion.” Fate is a development of events beyonds a person’s control. These ideas are exactly what Sophocles is challenging is his play Oedipus Rex. In Oedipus Rex the protagonist Oedipus is trying to figure who killed the former king Laius, not realizing he was the killer himself. Oedipus was destined to kill his father and marry his mother. Throughout the play, Oedipus is torn between accepting the prophecy or choosing his own destiny. Despite his best effort, the prophecy laid out for him came true. Oedipus Rex uses symbolism to illustrate the theme that one can never escape fate. One symbol used in Oedipus Rex is the scars on his feet. It represent the suffering he has endured and will keep on enduring. In the play Oedipus finds out from a messenger that his adopted father Polybus is dead. The messenger explains how long ago he found a baby on Mount Cithaeron with its...
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...Oedipus, the ruler of Thebes, approaches a group of unhappy citizens, represented by a priest, and asks them what is wrong. They answer that the city is dying and that they are sick and poor. Oedipus sympathizes and tells them that, as their ruler, he is also troubled by the sickness of the city, and has already taken steps to see that something be done about it. The first step he has taken was to send Creon to Apollo's shrine to see what the god recommends they do. As Creon appears, he tells them that the god, Apollo, said that there is bad blood in Thebes, and that until this blood is expelled Thebes will be a sick city. This bad blood is the blood of the person who killed Laios. When Oedipus asks why the case was not investigated, as he had not come to Thebes at that point, the people answer that they were too busy trying to solve the Sphinx's riddle. Oedipus says that no matter what the cost is, he will get to the bottom of it, both because it harms Thebes, and because Laios was noble and loyal. The elders say that they do not have any knowledge of the murder, and suggest that Oedipus call Tiresias, a blind prophet, to help and advise him. Oedipus says that he has already done this, and Tiresias arrives promptly. Although reluctant to speak, Oedipus forces Tiresias to reveal what he knows. Tiresias says that Oedipus is Thebes' pollution and that he killed his father and sleeps with his mother, and that this is the truth. Oedipus accuses Tiresias of lying on Creon's behalf...
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...Even though both king’s fates are said, it is not sealed until a certain action is done. Oedipus’ fate is not set until he meets with King Laius and his men at the crossroads. As a young boy, he was taunted for not being the biological son of King Polybus and turns to the oracle of Apollo and that is when he first hears his prophecy “Pythia, drove him away from Apollo’s shrine, declaring that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother. Horrified at the prophecy, Oedipus fled Corinth, the home of his supposed parents, in an attempt to avoid fulfillling the prophecy” (“Background: Oedipus the King 431). As an attempt to change his fate, he flees Corinth and at the crossroads, after being insulted and hit, he acts on his anger and “killed the rider and charioteer and continued on his way” (Background: Oedipus the King 431)....
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...ENG4U-Q March 20th 2016 Predestined Fate vs. Random Chance In the story of Oedipus the King, fate and justice are truly envisioned through the higher powers rather than random luck/chance. The idea of fate and justice is quite significant in the play as each character questions their destiny on the basis of it. Oedipus fits a perfect description of this theme as he illustrates the role of a tragic hero. He is considered to be a well-respected and honourable king at the beginning of the play but as the plot progresses, he encounters his downfall and discovers that he in fact took his father’s life, Laius, while sleeping with his own mother, Jocasta. One of the reasons why the characters don’t believe in a higher power is because they feel a doubt of their existence when their wishes aren’t fulfilled. For example when Jocasta says, “O oracles of the Gods, where are you now?” (Sophocles, 1068). When she hears the news about Polybus’ death, she starts doubting the prophecies of god, even though she was praying for her city’s freedom from plague a while ago. Another issue that characters encounter with fate is that they believe it can be reciprocated in some way. In Oedipus’ case, after finding truth about his parentage, he decides to leave Corinth hoping his fate doesn’t come true. But fate and justice being controlled by high powers is caught up to Oedipus and he unknowingly kills his father on his way to Thebes. Oedipus blames for his fate to be controlled by higher powers when...
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...powerful Zeus, Hera, and Apollo. There are many stories that focus on Greek gods, some people believe them to be true and some see them as stories. The Greek god Apollo focused on fate, plagues, and healing. He was considered the most Greek god of all gods. In Oedipus Rex, Sophocles uses the Greek god Apollo to show his influences on human life in how he controls fate, how plagues can change people actions, and healing in their lives all in a mythological view. Sophocles uses Oedipus as an example for being born into tragedy was his fate. Before Oedipus was born he was prophesied to kill his father and to marry his mother. Fate is an unpredictable circumstance as Jocasta says, “Why should anyone in this...
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