Free Will In Sophocles 'Oedipus The King'

SUMMARY In his play, Oedipus the King, Sophocles exemplifies the idea of determination and free will through the prophecy of Oedipus. The play begins by describing a terrible curse that has fallen on Thebes. After Oedipus sends Creon to speak to Apollo about the curse, Creon explains that the curse will be lifted if the murder of Laius, the previous king, is found and punished. While questioning various citizens of Thebes to uncover Laius’s murderer, a blind prophet tells Oedipus that he is actually the murderer. This worries Oedipus because at a young age, a prophet foresees Oedipus murdering his biological father and marrying his biological mother. In addition, Oedipus killed a man at a crossroads, which is where Laius was murdered. Eventually, Oedipus confirms that he was abandoned as an infant and adopted by a new family. Additionally, Jocasta, Oedipus’s wife, realizes that she is Oedipus’s true mother and in horror, kills herself. Consequently, Oedipus gouges his eyes out and
leaves Thebes.
EVALUATION
I do not agree with how Oedipus deals with the prophecy.
He knows the prophecy foreshadows him killing his father and bearing children with his mother, yet he kills a man on a whim and marries a woman quickly. It is baffling that Oedipus does not even considered the idea that the man could be his biological father or contemplates the chance of Jocasta being his biological mother. Although Oedipus tries to prevent the prophecy from coming true by running away from who he believes are his real parents, he does not continue to be cautious. In all honesty, I do not believe that he did not want the prophecy to come true. If he really did, he would take more preventative measures by never murdering and never marrying. Although Oedipus initially reacted in a heroic manner to be liked by his peers, I think subconsciously he knew the prophecy would be correct. Additionally, I think his reaction to gouge his eyes out was extreme and, once again, a plea for acceptance from the citizens of
Thebes.
RESPONSE
On the idea of fate and self-determination, I believe that the actions you choose to take and the actions of those you choose to be surrounded by influence your ultimate fate. While reading this play, I realized that, in modern day, fate is usually used in a positive light. You commonly hear, ‘You were born to be a doctor!” but rarely hear, “You were meant to be homeless and a drug addict.” In all actuality, there is little sympathy for the homeless and addicts because many believe that they made decisions that leads to those positions. I think, at birth, we are inclined to certain attributes and skills, but that in no way means were are destined to do solely that. It is the environment we build around ourselves and the attitude we choose to take that shape who we will become.