Fate And Free Will In Oedipus Rex By Sophocles

The famous Greek play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles portrays the unfortunate life of the King of Thebes, Oedipus. Oedipus has spent his whole life running from a prophecy- a prophecy that states he will one day kill his father and marry his mother. The more the cursed prince tries to escape his fate, the more trapped he becomes by it, and he is completely ignorant of this fact. He condemns himself with curses, throws accusations to those closest to him, and generally makes poor decisions. However, while all of these actions certainly have an impact on Oedipus’ story, fate is the main driving factor. Fate guides the story as Oedipus stumbles through it, and although his fate presents itself to him numerous times, Oedipus is too blind to see what’s …show more content…
However, although free will does play a significant part in Oedipus’ story, it is fate that ultimately guides his life and destroys him finally. From the moment he was born, Oedipus’ life was decided, he was predestined to live a cursed life of patricide and incest. None of the choices Oedipus made, nor the choices of those around him, changed what lay in store. In fact, each time he tries to escape his fate, it only tightens its grip, a hungry snake slowly constricting it 's prey. Oedipus flees Corinth in an attempt to flee his fate- “I went to other lands,/ so I would never see that prophecy fulfilled,/ the abomination of my evil fate”- however in leaving his home, he only fell into the hands of the fate he was running from. Jocasta also tries to avoid Oedipus’ fate as it is also her own, she begs him not to seek the truth, but Oedipus’ compulsive desire for the truth of his destiny drives him on. Knowing what her son and husband will soon know, Jocasta hangs herself, and at finding her corpse, Oedipus takes the pins from her dress and gouges out his own eyes. None of them can escape fate, and Oedipus physically blinds himself for being so blind to this fact before. He never had a