Oedipus The King Fate Vs Freewill

Oedipus: Fate vs. Freewill Oedipus the King is a drama about fate, and the cost one man must pay for his unyielding quest for the truth. Oedipus is an ideal king to the people of Thebes. He is compassionate, sensitive, has a special ability to solve riddles, and is bold, but his hubris is his downfall. During the time in which the story takes place, oracles speak for the gods: the gods are omniscient, and their words are the law. Oedipus’ hamartia is that he does not heed to the principle that happiness comes through reverence and humility; man should accept divine laws and accept the consequences of his actions. “It [Greek Tragedy] was not content, as modern science is content, to regard the world as a framework of inexorable law within …show more content…
Was he actually fleeing by freewill, or was fleeing part of his predestination? Oedipus’ use of his freewill seems to be a crucial role in his destiny. During this journey of escape, he fulfilled the first part of the prophecy by killing a man who, unbeknownst to him, was his father. This incident occurred while he was traveling towards Thebes and approached the place where the roads from Thebes, Delphi and Daulia meet. He met a group of men, among them Laïos, King of Thebes, going in the opposite direction. In hubris, he refused to yield the right of way, as did King Laïos. Oedipus managed to kill the entire troop except for a servant. In his ignorance, he felt this action was justifiable self-defense. Oedipus’ act of freewill shows his irascibility, violent temper and unrelenting determination that eventually proves to be his downfall. Upon his arrival in Thebes, Oedipus saved the country by solving the riddle of the Sphinx: “What animal has four legs in the morning, two legs in at noon, and three in the evening?” The answer is a human being: babies crawl, adults walk on two legs and the elderly use a cane.] He was hailed king and married Laïos widow, Iocastȇ. As the play begins, Oedipus has been King of Thebes for a number of years, and the city is again suffering from a plague. Determined to rid the country of the plague, Oedipus seeks the truth at any cost. He has already sent for instructions from the oracle. When Creon returns with answers, Oedipus is told that the murderer of Laïos must be avenged. Oedipus ironically declares to the elders, “I say I take the son’s part, just as though I were his son, to press the fight for him and see it won” (Sophocles 1262). Oedipus is ignorant to the fact that he himself is the murderer. He has also sent for Teiresias, the blind prophet who received his insight from the gods themselves. Oedipus relentlessly badgers