Oedipus
Do humans control their own destiny? Every human being makes choices, but what leads us to make our choices? Some may believe that everything in life is predetermined by God. Predestination is the belief that whatever will happen in your future is already fixed. However others may believe that everything is a matter of free will. Belief in Free will is the belief that your own choices lead you to your destiny. In Oedipus Rex the idea of predestination is the most important theme of the play. The main Characters Oedipus, Jocasta and Laius all try to escape their destiny and take matters into their own hands but do not escape from their fate.
Oedipus speaks to the people of Thebes from his palace and tells them that there is nothing he can’t do to save his city. He asks for the person who committed the crime to come forward. “Only banishment will be his punishment” (Page 31). When no one comes forward, Oedipus calls the prophet Tiresias in hope that he will disclose what he knows of the murder. The prophet is reluctant to tell the King what he knows. Oedipus responds, “What? Something you know, and will not tell? You mean to fail us and to see your city perish?” (Page 35). Tiresias informs the King that it is better not to know. Oedipus will not take that as an answer so. He continues to threats the prophet until finally, Tiresias says, “Then hear this: upon your head is the ban your lips have uttered – from this day forth never speak to me or any here. You are the cursed polluter of this land” (Page 35). Oedipus believes that he is playing a trick and rejects Tiresias’ testimony and begins to place the blame on Creon. Tiresias replies, “Not Creon either. Your enemy is yourself” (Page 36). Nevertheless, Oedipus has been doomed with fate and nothing he could have done would change his destiny.
An example in the story that supports the idea of predestination is when Tiresias identifies the murderer of Laius as Oedipus. Also Tiresias foreshadows when
Oedipus speaks to the people of Thebes from his palace and tells them that there is nothing he can’t do to save his city. He asks for the person who committed the crime to come forward. “Only banishment will be his punishment” (Page 31). When no one comes forward, Oedipus calls the prophet Tiresias in hope that he will disclose what he knows of the murder. The prophet is reluctant to tell the King what he knows. Oedipus responds, “What? Something you know, and will not tell? You mean to fail us and to see your city perish?” (Page 35). Tiresias informs the King that it is better not to know. Oedipus will not take that as an answer so. He continues to threats the prophet until finally, Tiresias says, “Then hear this: upon your head is the ban your lips have uttered – from this day forth never speak to me or any here. You are the cursed polluter of this land” (Page 35). Oedipus believes that he is playing a trick and rejects Tiresias’ testimony and begins to place the blame on Creon. Tiresias replies, “Not Creon either. Your enemy is yourself” (Page 36). Nevertheless, Oedipus has been doomed with fate and nothing he could have done would change his destiny.
An example in the story that supports the idea of predestination is when Tiresias identifies the murderer of Laius as Oedipus. Also Tiresias foreshadows when