No matter which movie, play, or book you are analyzing, it is always apparent that there is a hero with fate or destiny to follow. Some Heroes are controlled by a predetermined prophecy told by a higher spiritual power. It is still very common in present day to conclude a god has the power to bestow punishment, reward, and even determine one 's path in life. During the middle ages, peasants and serfs used the principle of Ockham 's Razor to conclude the Gods were at fault for inflicting bizarre events, such as plagues, sudden deaths, famines or natural disasters. However, a story like Oedipus Rex makes one ponder whether or not fate can eventually be transformed into free will and how much control the Gods really have on an individual. It was
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it has all come true. Light, let this be the last time I see you. I stand revealed Born in shame, married in shame, an unnatural murderer . . . I add up the total of your lives and find it equal to nothing... And now - is there a man whose story is more pitiful? (70-71)]
This soliloquy can be closely compared to that of Macbeth in Shakespeare 's Macbeth. Both Macbeth and Oedipus experience tragic downfalls in their lives, going from nobility and sitting atop the social hierarchy to a shamed beggar, and both are blinded by the truth, figuratively and literally. In retrospect, the life of Oedipus can be seen as a tale of two kings; a hero of great magnitude and poorest among the land. The great King of Thebes, who released an entire city from plague after solving a riddle from the sphinx which baffled many, is seen at the end of the play as the the most hated, shameful and mentally-destroyed people in Thebes. A lot of questions arise from how Oedipus handles the prophecy, and to some, it seems he puts no effort in trying to right his wrong. There is no concrete evidence that proves exactly if his life was completely destined by the prophecy or just the free moral decisions of Oedipus. As previously mentioned, it is near impossible to comprehend how influence the gods actual have over Oedipus. A quote from Greek philosopher Heraclitus “A man’s character is his fate” largely signifies the life of Oedipus and how he handled the entire prophecy. Ultimately, fate or freewill, Oedipus was essentially at the wrong place at the wrong
it has all come true. Light, let this be the last time I see you. I stand revealed Born in shame, married in shame, an unnatural murderer . . . I add up the total of your lives and find it equal to nothing... And now - is there a man whose story is more pitiful? (70-71)]
This soliloquy can be closely compared to that of Macbeth in Shakespeare 's Macbeth. Both Macbeth and Oedipus experience tragic downfalls in their lives, going from nobility and sitting atop the social hierarchy to a shamed beggar, and both are blinded by the truth, figuratively and literally. In retrospect, the life of Oedipus can be seen as a tale of two kings; a hero of great magnitude and poorest among the land. The great King of Thebes, who released an entire city from plague after solving a riddle from the sphinx which baffled many, is seen at the end of the play as the the most hated, shameful and mentally-destroyed people in Thebes. A lot of questions arise from how Oedipus handles the prophecy, and to some, it seems he puts no effort in trying to right his wrong. There is no concrete evidence that proves exactly if his life was completely destined by the prophecy or just the free moral decisions of Oedipus. As previously mentioned, it is near impossible to comprehend how influence the gods actual have over Oedipus. A quote from Greek philosopher Heraclitus “A man’s character is his fate” largely signifies the life of Oedipus and how he handled the entire prophecy. Ultimately, fate or freewill, Oedipus was essentially at the wrong place at the wrong