The ancient Greeks believed that their gods could see the future, and that certain people could access this information. A common debate that still brought up today is whether we as a species have free will or if fate controls our destiny. The same question applies to Oedipus the King. Does Oedipus control his actions, or are they predetermined by the gods? It’s that question that makes Oedipus classic, and there are many different views on it. With all the oracles and talk of prophecies, it’s obvious that there is some involvement in Oedipus. Does he have the ability to choose his own path or is everything in life predetermined?
In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, the tension between individual action and fate is everywhere. Oedipus’s decision to pursue knowledge of his identity is significant, but fate is …show more content…
He could have also declined to marry the former king's wife, unaware that the queen was his own mother. He accepted both of these without any regrets. If his decision was different it might have altered the course of events in the future. His personality made sure that the decisions went the way they did. These choices were made by Oedipus with his own free will, his own decisions. He didn't have to accept these gifts, but did none the less. These conclusions would lead to his own demise, but they were his own mistakes, not fate.
Free will and fate can be related to every aspect of Oedipus the King. The gods who control fate manipulate the thinking and concepts in human's free will. Ultimately fate is what overcomes all. It may not seem like it, but free will was given to mankind by the gods or God. So in turn the gods decide the fate of everybody when they created man. It was already decided and cannot be changed. Ultimately, Oedipus’ real mistake isn’t killing his father and marrying his mother, it’s trying to go against the gods and
In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, the tension between individual action and fate is everywhere. Oedipus’s decision to pursue knowledge of his identity is significant, but fate is …show more content…
He could have also declined to marry the former king's wife, unaware that the queen was his own mother. He accepted both of these without any regrets. If his decision was different it might have altered the course of events in the future. His personality made sure that the decisions went the way they did. These choices were made by Oedipus with his own free will, his own decisions. He didn't have to accept these gifts, but did none the less. These conclusions would lead to his own demise, but they were his own mistakes, not fate.
Free will and fate can be related to every aspect of Oedipus the King. The gods who control fate manipulate the thinking and concepts in human's free will. Ultimately fate is what overcomes all. It may not seem like it, but free will was given to mankind by the gods or God. So in turn the gods decide the fate of everybody when they created man. It was already decided and cannot be changed. Ultimately, Oedipus’ real mistake isn’t killing his father and marrying his mother, it’s trying to go against the gods and