Analysis Of Oedipus The King: The Limits Of Free Will

The idea of free will is entirely dependent on one’s own beliefs. Since it is a mere idea that is not exactly obtainable with our human minds, there is no way to accurately prove that free will is either right or wrong. The human mind is not capable to fully grasp the idea of the limits of free will. Thus the idea of the limits of our free will is then established by one’s environment (Professor Lagerweij). For instance, Oedipus was limited in his free will by the oaths dictating his fate. Machiavelli, also, believed that the limits of our free will are controlled by Fortune, herself, for she dominates the majority of one’s free will. However, I don’t essentially believe that our free will is limited by Greek gods or by oaths; instead I believe
He, however, couldn’t identify it other than stating that it was the gods and their malicious deeds—the unfortunate oaths. In the story of Oedipus, his own limits of free will are the very oaths that seemed to dictate his every action. Oedipus attempted to grasp his own free will in entirely and escape the oath—that controlled his life—when instead he unknowingly was controlled by the oath. Even when the seer, Teiresias, bluntly tells him that Oedipus has completed the oath, Oedipus still believes that with his free will he escaped the oath. “You have your eyes but see not where you are/ in sin, nor where you live, nor whom you live with.” (Sophocles. 482-483) The seer is ironically naming him as blind for Oedipus believes that he has no limits on his free will, and he fails to see that his free will is limited by the oath: that he will kill his father and sleep with his mother. More than the actual oath Oedipus was limited by himself, for he was too blind to see his own actions as accountable towards his free will. He limited himself thinking that he was completely
I like to believe that everyone has free will, but I also acknowledge the fact that there are various limits to our free will. As children, we are limited by our parents as they educate us and teach their morals onto us. As we grow up, the society begins to limit our free will in dictating what is “normal” and accepted, and what is not. For instance, the way society has made engraved in our minds that the only way someone can be successful is if they attend college. When in reality, success can be achieved in various manners, other than attending college. But it’s what is expected for every young adult to do: attend college. Now I want to be successful, so I followed what is expected of me; even though, as a free agent, I have complete control over my actions I still chose to do what is expected of me. As one becomes an adult they begin to realize that our government also limits our free will, for the safety and security of all. If a threat were to appear in the country, our rights and free will would be completely diminished in order to adequately protect the nation. In every aspect of our lives there are limits to our free will, restricting us to be our own free