Free Will In Oedipus The King
In Oedipus the King, there are many limits of having free will over one’s own fate. It is illustrated through Sophocles’ play that not only do the Gods control peoples fate through prophecies and interferences, but other humans can play a role as well. People’s actions may directly affect whether a God’s prophecy plays out or not. There are multiple examples of this in Oedipus’ life. He was determined not to fulfil the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother, but his determination was fruitless because of the actions of many other characters. Oedipus’ biological parents, their messenger/shepherd, and his adoptive parents were key people in making the prophecy inevitable.
From the beginning of his life, Oedipus’ fate is determined by others. One of Apollo’s priests came to King Laius of Thebes and prophesized his death at the hands of his own son. Jocasta admits this to Oedipus and further explains that when their son was just 3 days …show more content…
“The one in the lead and the old man himself were about to thrust me off the road –brute force– and the one shouldering me aside, the driver, I strike him in anger! – and the old man, watching me coming up along his wheels –he brings down his prod, two prongs straight at my head!” (888-893) In Oedipus’ description, he did nothing to provoke the attack. Laius and his men acted violently towards Oedipus for absolutely no reason and he was justified in defending himself. If the old king had not partaken in threatening actions towards Oedipus, he probably would not have been killed. I believe this is related to Laius and Jocasta’s riddance of Oedipus because had they kept and raised him, this particular situation would not have occurred. On that day, Laius and Oedipus would have met at the same crossroads and they would’ve recognized each other as father and son; There wouldn’t have been viscous actions leading to fighting and the death of
From the beginning of his life, Oedipus’ fate is determined by others. One of Apollo’s priests came to King Laius of Thebes and prophesized his death at the hands of his own son. Jocasta admits this to Oedipus and further explains that when their son was just 3 days …show more content…
“The one in the lead and the old man himself were about to thrust me off the road –brute force– and the one shouldering me aside, the driver, I strike him in anger! – and the old man, watching me coming up along his wheels –he brings down his prod, two prongs straight at my head!” (888-893) In Oedipus’ description, he did nothing to provoke the attack. Laius and his men acted violently towards Oedipus for absolutely no reason and he was justified in defending himself. If the old king had not partaken in threatening actions towards Oedipus, he probably would not have been killed. I believe this is related to Laius and Jocasta’s riddance of Oedipus because had they kept and raised him, this particular situation would not have occurred. On that day, Laius and Oedipus would have met at the same crossroads and they would’ve recognized each other as father and son; There wouldn’t have been viscous actions leading to fighting and the death of