Free Will In Oedipus The King, By Sophocles
What if someone knew something about you that you did not? What if your poor self control and horrid temper led you to your death? In Oedipus The King, by Sophocles, Oedipus begins life with a prophesied future, set in stone by the gods. Oedipus is unwillingly and unconsciously forced to kill his father, betroth his mother, and live the remainder of his life in expatriation. Oedipus depletes his life attempting to find his given place in the universe, by endeavoring to discover his past, and his subsequent resolution of life. Oedipus’ shows many instances of his vigorous temper and his aspiration for his life’s prognostication. Throughout the story, Oedipus substantiates many exemplifications of his short fused temper. Oedipus, when talking with his mother in a striven attempt to solve his past’s mystery, he states, “Nothing!
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You scum of the earth, you’d enrage a heart of stone!” (266). Oedipus’ conversation with Tiresias begins with Oedipus in a mindset that he will indeed get what he wants. In response to Oedipus’ atrocious outrage, Tiresias divulges “You criticize my temper… unaware of the one you live with, you revile me.” (266). Tiresias is also aware of Oedipus’ poor temper, he learns first-handed that Oedipus has poor control over his violent temper. Oedipus also proves true of his poor temper shortly following his success at elucidating his past. Oedipus rips off Jocasta’s broaches, and transfixes the points deep into both of his eyes, thought this time also shouting, “You, you’ll see no more the pain I suffered, all the pain I caused!” (306). Oedipus is so enraged and dementedly embarrassed by what he has caused, that he forces himself to become blinded for the remainder of his lifetime. Oedipus has an uncontrollable anger, he forces himself to an exponential amount of pain simply because of what he has done. The trait of pursuit of truth in which Oedipus develops is proven alongside the story, in the manner when Oedipus exclaims to Jocasta out of dissatisfaction, “What—give up now, with a clue like this?
Fail to solve the mystery of my birth? Not for all the world!” (298). Oedipus simply states that he cannot, and he will not give up on this peregrination for his inevitable future. Even with the most divulging clue, Oedipus makes known that he will not give up his pursuit until he is fully knowledgeable of what is to come. The short tempered Oedipus turns toward torture when he does not get what he desires. The same shepherd who saves Oedipus from agonizing death as a diminutive child, undergoes superfluous and brutal torture when he refuses to confess the prophecy of Oedipus. Oedipus, while in the midst of soliciting his prophecy states, “So, you won’t talk willingly— then you'll talk with pain” (302). Oedipus begins entwining his arms, causing the shepherd tremendous amounts of pain. Oedipus takes no commiseration on even the most defenseless human beings, he is single handedly focused on his life's
outcome. Oedipus shows a considerable amount of instances and examples of his short temper, and his insufficient ability to give up his pursuit of truth. Just as Oedipus introduces his temper by torturing the poor and helpless shepherd, he also shows his straightforward rage though his violent and purposeful blinding of himself. Oedipus’ explanation of his unbecoming failure to give up hope for his understanding of his past links him toward his inevitable downfall. Oedipus indeed shows many instances of his failure to control his temper, and his insufficiency to abandon his peregrination of his future, along with his past.
You scum of the earth, you’d enrage a heart of stone!” (266). Oedipus’ conversation with Tiresias begins with Oedipus in a mindset that he will indeed get what he wants. In response to Oedipus’ atrocious outrage, Tiresias divulges “You criticize my temper… unaware of the one you live with, you revile me.” (266). Tiresias is also aware of Oedipus’ poor temper, he learns first-handed that Oedipus has poor control over his violent temper. Oedipus also proves true of his poor temper shortly following his success at elucidating his past. Oedipus rips off Jocasta’s broaches, and transfixes the points deep into both of his eyes, thought this time also shouting, “You, you’ll see no more the pain I suffered, all the pain I caused!” (306). Oedipus is so enraged and dementedly embarrassed by what he has caused, that he forces himself to become blinded for the remainder of his lifetime. Oedipus has an uncontrollable anger, he forces himself to an exponential amount of pain simply because of what he has done. The trait of pursuit of truth in which Oedipus develops is proven alongside the story, in the manner when Oedipus exclaims to Jocasta out of dissatisfaction, “What—give up now, with a clue like this?
Fail to solve the mystery of my birth? Not for all the world!” (298). Oedipus simply states that he cannot, and he will not give up on this peregrination for his inevitable future. Even with the most divulging clue, Oedipus makes known that he will not give up his pursuit until he is fully knowledgeable of what is to come. The short tempered Oedipus turns toward torture when he does not get what he desires. The same shepherd who saves Oedipus from agonizing death as a diminutive child, undergoes superfluous and brutal torture when he refuses to confess the prophecy of Oedipus. Oedipus, while in the midst of soliciting his prophecy states, “So, you won’t talk willingly— then you'll talk with pain” (302). Oedipus begins entwining his arms, causing the shepherd tremendous amounts of pain. Oedipus takes no commiseration on even the most defenseless human beings, he is single handedly focused on his life's
outcome. Oedipus shows a considerable amount of instances and examples of his short temper, and his insufficient ability to give up his pursuit of truth. Just as Oedipus introduces his temper by torturing the poor and helpless shepherd, he also shows his straightforward rage though his violent and purposeful blinding of himself. Oedipus’ explanation of his unbecoming failure to give up hope for his understanding of his past links him toward his inevitable downfall. Oedipus indeed shows many instances of his failure to control his temper, and his insufficiency to abandon his peregrination of his future, along with his past.