Sigmund Freud says, “Oedipus Rex is what is known as a tragedy of destiny. Its tragic effect is said to lie in the contrast between the supreme will of the gods and the vain attempts of mankind to escape the evil that threatens them. The lesson…submission to the divine will and realization of his own impotence.” (Freud 132). Freud explains the reality in the story of Oedipus the King. Oedipus is not to blame for his fate, but he is to blame for the conclusion from his attempts to stop his fate. Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, is a story of unstoppable fate. Sophocles explains the outcome of Oedipus after his parents abandon him to avoid his inevitable fate, and when Oedipus decided to be ignorant when given hints to his true identity.
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The gods are all powerful and the fate they decide is an unopposable reality which, in Greek times, is revealed by the oracle at Delphi. One may interpret that Oedipus was in control of his fate all along, but a passage in the book Oedipus the King proves that Oedipus really was not in control of his own fate. Oedipus cries, “I’d never have come to this,/ my father’s murderer― never been branded/ mother’s husband, all men see me now!” (Sophocles 242). In this passage, Oedipus had just blinded himself and he reanalyzes his life in accordance with his true identity. Oedipus confesses how he would never have ended up where he did, the murderer of his father and husband to his mother, this proves that his fate had come true. This passage also suggests a somber tone, which one can infer that Oedipus had tried his best to avoid his fate. Oedipus had attempted to control his fate, but the gods had already decided and Oedipus was powerless to the gods. As a result, the Gods are to blame for the fate of …show more content…
With Oedipus’ attempt to stop his fate, came purposeful ignorance. Oedipus decided to be ignorant when he was presented with clues to the truth of his fate. While talking to Tiresias, Oedipus says “Parents- who? Wait… who is my father?/ … Yes, take him away. You’re a nuisance here.” (Sophocles 184/185). In this passage, Oedipus nearly finds out the truth from Tiresias, but instead Oedipus banishes him to avoid any unwanted information. One can infer that Oedipus lived by the phrase “ignorance is bliss.” Oedipus thinks that being uninformed is a better way to live than to survive with a terrible secret. Oedipus chose to live, rather than to survive. In this way, Oedipus chose his path towards his fate; therefore he is to blame for what his life
The gods are all powerful and the fate they decide is an unopposable reality which, in Greek times, is revealed by the oracle at Delphi. One may interpret that Oedipus was in control of his fate all along, but a passage in the book Oedipus the King proves that Oedipus really was not in control of his own fate. Oedipus cries, “I’d never have come to this,/ my father’s murderer― never been branded/ mother’s husband, all men see me now!” (Sophocles 242). In this passage, Oedipus had just blinded himself and he reanalyzes his life in accordance with his true identity. Oedipus confesses how he would never have ended up where he did, the murderer of his father and husband to his mother, this proves that his fate had come true. This passage also suggests a somber tone, which one can infer that Oedipus had tried his best to avoid his fate. Oedipus had attempted to control his fate, but the gods had already decided and Oedipus was powerless to the gods. As a result, the Gods are to blame for the fate of …show more content…
With Oedipus’ attempt to stop his fate, came purposeful ignorance. Oedipus decided to be ignorant when he was presented with clues to the truth of his fate. While talking to Tiresias, Oedipus says “Parents- who? Wait… who is my father?/ … Yes, take him away. You’re a nuisance here.” (Sophocles 184/185). In this passage, Oedipus nearly finds out the truth from Tiresias, but instead Oedipus banishes him to avoid any unwanted information. One can infer that Oedipus lived by the phrase “ignorance is bliss.” Oedipus thinks that being uninformed is a better way to live than to survive with a terrible secret. Oedipus chose to live, rather than to survive. In this way, Oedipus chose his path towards his fate; therefore he is to blame for what his life