How Did Oedipus Lose His Fate

Oedipus, the king of Thebes, is one of the most powerful and influential of individuals. Despite this, he lacked the ability to change his fate and live the lifestyle he wanted. His destiny was predetermined by the gods who created him. His future was also set, as he will, unknowingly, kill his father, Laius, and have intercourse with his mother, Jocasta. From the beginning, he was an unwanted child with a sealed fate that scared both his father and mother. When Oedipus said, “Apollo told me once, I must make love with my mother, shed my father’s blood with my hands”, ( 217, lines 1100) he acknowledged the fact that he was aware of the life he had been given. Despite this obstacle, he tried to prevent the fulfillment of such actions. However, even with this knowledge, it doesn’t stop the prophecy from becoming …show more content…
Because he fled his hometown and escaped from Polybus, the man he presumed was his biological father, in hopes of disproving Apollo, he ends up killing his real father, Laius. Following this, he chose Thebes as a spot to reign, married his real mother, Jocasta, and produced babies with her. Surely, something in him caused him to act this way, as if he was never told the truth of the oracle, likely none of this would have happened. He resembles a person with a mind of their own, yet many factors relinquish Oedipus of sanity, making him under the controls of the Gods. If in fact, he was actually in full control of his conduct, he would have proceeded life with more caution, and ultimately, none of these setbacks would have happened. He gave it his best to avoid the harsh reality, but without authority over his own actions, it is evident that he ends up fulfilling his prophecy, just as Apollo