Comparing Fate In Oedipus Rex And A Doll House

The tragedies that take place between Oedipus and Nora in “Oedipus Rex” and “A Doll House” depict disastrous events that influence their decisions in life. In greek mythology, many chose to believe their fate was made for them long before they were born. Often, fate plays a huge role on how our actions are drawn out. There are many choices we must carefully choose to better ourselves though we can’t control every outcome. Both Oedipus and Nora are casualties of unfortunate circumstances, resulting in Oedipus being a victim of fate, and Nora unjustified for leaving her family. Oedipus Rex is a victim of fate. Reasonably, Oedipus is deemed to have no control nor dominance over his life as he becomes a victim of his own reality. This leads Oedipus’
His life was planned by the Oracle which left him helpless, “Fulfilled the oracle: for Apollo said My child was doomed to kill him; and my child-Poor baby!” (Sophocles, 980). Regardless of how he could’ve attempted to change his fate, his misfortune would still have drawn itself to him. When Tiresias ventured to expose the truth of Oedipus’ past, he didn’t want to believe it, which stirred a sense of discomfort within him. Oedipus’ ego held him back from trusting the word of Teiresias, “Teiresias: I can, if there is power in truth. Oedipus: There is: But not for you, not for you, You sightless, witless, senseless mad old man!” because he was sheltered from whom he could have been if his childhood had a different outcome (Sophocles, 968). He respectfully had a valid reason for not wanting to hear the harsh truth of what he would do and who he would become because he was never exposed to his family background. Him not knowing who his family was and being neglected left him
To begin with, Nora had three children she left behind after her she fled her home. This is tragic because Nora referred to her husband as a stranger after he disowned her for committing a crime. After her breakdown she decided it was best to leave her home and her family to create a new beginning for herself. Nora felt her children would be better off without her, “Good-bye, Torvald. I won’t look in on the children. I know they’re in better hands than mine. The way I am now, I’m no use to them.” she left feeling she could never be good enough of a mother to them (Ibsen, 1152). In reality, children need their mother and a husbands need their his wife. Without their mother, their lives could be corrupted and all the pressure would left on their father. She considered Torvald a stranger after he didn’t support her decision of borrowing the money from Krogstad. To consider your husband a stranger is a big accusation, “I can’t spend the night in a strange man’s room.” (Ibsen, 1152). Nora leaving her children in the hands of someone she now considered a stranger creates a lack of respect for her. Nora claimed her home to be a doll house she felt trapped in and stormed off. She is not justified for leaving because time after time her husband would forgive her for every disobedience including the many times he found her sneaking macaroons in her pockets. Nora leaving would drive her family to be torn and weak. In this era