Control Of Fate In Oedipus The King

The Control of Fate in Oedipus Rex

It is a common theme in much of ancient greek literature that mortals do not control their own fate. Prophecies are sent from the gods, and the gods are never wrong. In a few stories, the mortal hero bests the gods and does manage to change his fate. Oedipus Rex is unfortunately not one of these stories. This play starts off with a King and a Queen being told of a prophecy. The prophecy states that their son will kill his father, and sleep with his mother. They send him off to be killed to try to intervene and stop the gos plan. This does not work. Oedipus grows up, learns of this prophecy, and leaves his home and who he thinks are his parents to stop this prophecy. Once again, this does not work to stop Oedipus from fulfilling his fate. No matter what any mortal did, no matter how powerful they were, or how determined they were to avoid this, they couldn't escape their fates. No matter what Oedipus or anyone else did, the gods were always in control and there was no way for him not to fall to his destructive destiny. …show more content…
It is the prequel to two more known plays; Oedipus at Colonus, and then Antigone. During this era in greek literature and culture, the gods played a major role in everything. The ancient greeks believed that the gods controlled everything, from the seasons changing, to their own mortal destinies. It does not matter what a person does, the gods know their fate and there's nothing anyone can do to change