Sophocles Oedipus The King: Fate And Free Will

Fate Drives Free Will Oedipus a man of mystery, frees the city from the Sphinx terror and becomes the savior of Thebes. Oedipus becomes a leader who will bring both glory and curse to Thebes’ name, and a leader whose pride and arrogance would fall to fate. In Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus the King, the author conveys the idea that fate is inescapable by hinting the kings future through the prophet and by the realization Oedipus experiences. Oedipus was told about his fate countless times throughout Oedipus the King but the arrogance and pride of Oedipus blinded him from seeing it. Sophocles uses Tiresias, a blind prophet, to first introduce and explain the inescapable fate of Oedipus. Tiresias says “you’re blind scourge your own flesh and blood, your father’s curse” (183) This is the first knowledge of Oedipus fate. When Tiresias explains the fate Oedipus will realize he uses past tense words meaning the fate is already have or currently is being fulfilled “you’re blinded”. Tiresias also explains that …show more content…
Tiresias also gives Oedipus a strong warning saying “brother and father both son and husband he spilled his father's blood”(185) the prophet gives Oedipus the biggest clue into his fate but due his persistent attitude of he was unable to hear the words of Tiresias (he enters the palace). In Tiresias quote he explains that the fate may have been met already, for the brother is also the father in this implication it is shown that