Fate In Oedipus The King

The concept of fate is a controversial theme in literature, but the dilemma faced by Vulcan and Cryos shows that human destiny is inevitable and should be embraced instead. Inevitable is often defined as an unavoidable situation, one that is associated with impending doom. One such example is found in the tale of Oedipus Rex, the tragic hero of Thebes who is destined to kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus learns that in attempting to run away from the prophecy, he fulfills it instead. After blinding himself in shame, Oedipus bemoans to his friends that “my measure of ills fills my measure of woe; Author was none, but I” (Sophocles 47). Oedipus laments the fact that he was the one who authored his fate as he tried to run away from it.
The name Vulcan comes from the god of fire in Greek and Roman mythology, thus where Heath might possibly get his fire powers from. Vulcan is not a name, it is a title for Heath Grant whose destiny was to assume the mantle of Vulcan and keep peace in the world. Unlike his name however, Heath begins to warm up to the idea of taking on the Vulcan designation as he realizes what a threat to the world his brother has become. In the article “Tampering with the Future: Apollo’s Prophecy in Sophocles’s Oedipus the King”, Christopher S. Nassar explores the argument that fate is unavoidable, but can be reasoned with. While one’s destiny cannot be changed, Nassar argues that with the right amount of caution and logic a person can make the best of their fate. In the case of Oedipus who acted rashly to the prophecy, what is captured “is the human sense of of being caught in a merciless trap...but within the confines of fate, one can upgrade himself if he behaves intelligently” (149). A similar mindset is later adopted by the character Heath/Vulcan later on in Flaming Water, Burning