How Does Oedipus Lose His Fate

The concept of fate implies that one’s life has a pre-determined outcome in which cannot be changed. Although individuals have the ability to act freely, their actions create an inevitable destiny. In the play, Oedipus the King by Sophocles, the main character Oedipus, the king of Thebes, is extremely concerned about fulfilling his dreadful prophecy. Oedipus attempts to stop his prophecy from occurring, however, his actions bring his fate upon himself. His persistence to know the truth, obsession with altering his destiny and the many assumptions he makes, create his unpleasant fate. Due to Oedipus’s compulsion to know the truth, he chooses to ignore all warnings and advice he receives, ultimately bringing his horrid fate upon himself. During the play when Oedipus reflects on his past, it becomes clear he is troubled by the idea of Polybus and Merope not being his true parents. Oedipus chose to confront them of this; when he is unable to achieve a true answer, he travels to the oracle of Apollo at …show more content…
Although Oedipus goes to extreme measures to ensure his prophecy does not come true, he makes countless assumptions along the way, which bring his fate upon himself. During the play Oedipus shows immense confidence; he wants to be known as the king who saved the citizens of Thebes from their troubles. His overwhelming confidence blinds him from seeing he is the man responsible for the troubles of Thebes. Oedipus treats the blind prophet poorly by disregarding his warnings and forcing him to speak. Oedipus chose freely to call down a curse on the man responsible for Laius’s death, “May he drag out an evil death-in-life in misery. And further, I pronounce a curse on myself if the murderer should, with my knowledge, share my house…” (Oedipus 15-16). Oedipus extended the curse to include himself since he assumed he was an innocent man. Oedipus’s actions prove he alone is responsible for his