Oedipus's Downfall Essay
Destined for Downfall
The tragedy of Oedipus the King can be captured in the wise words of Jean de La Fontaine when he said, “A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.” Oedipus tried to outrun his fate only to meet it head on because like all people he is a slave to his fate. Sadly, for Oedipus his fate is predetermined and unavoidable, and made only worse by his immense pride, or Hubris.
Oedipus’ fate is predetermined by the three fates who make men’s destinies that even the gods dare not intervein. This idea is illustrated by Philostrate who writes in The Life of Apollonius of Tyana:
And I Dwelled upon the influence of the Fates, and argued that the threads which they spin are so unchangeable, that, even if the decreed …show more content…
(972-800)
The rough doom aforementioned is exactly what falls on Oedipus repaying his Hubris in full force. There is no doubt that his fate would not still happened, but in humility there would be grace, grace which Oedipus did not receive due to his pride. Oedipus king of Thebes as great as he may be shares the common trait of all men and women, which is being a slave to fate in all of its mercy or cruelty. Oedipus’ fate aided by his pride led to his downfall which he had no control over. This play is an important lesson to all readers because “Men do not shape destiny, destiny produces the man for the hour.” – Fidel Castro, so be wary of your pride, because even if you may not chose your fate, your pride will determine the severity of your fate.
Works Cited
Lemnos, Philostrate de. “The Life of Apollonius of Tyana (the Epistles of Apollonius and Treatise of Eusebius).” The Life of Apollonius of Tyana (the Epistles of Apollonius and Treatise of Eusebius), translated by F. C. Conybeare, S.n., 1912, p. 365
Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Translated by Robert
The tragedy of Oedipus the King can be captured in the wise words of Jean de La Fontaine when he said, “A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.” Oedipus tried to outrun his fate only to meet it head on because like all people he is a slave to his fate. Sadly, for Oedipus his fate is predetermined and unavoidable, and made only worse by his immense pride, or Hubris.
Oedipus’ fate is predetermined by the three fates who make men’s destinies that even the gods dare not intervein. This idea is illustrated by Philostrate who writes in The Life of Apollonius of Tyana:
And I Dwelled upon the influence of the Fates, and argued that the threads which they spin are so unchangeable, that, even if the decreed …show more content…
(972-800)
The rough doom aforementioned is exactly what falls on Oedipus repaying his Hubris in full force. There is no doubt that his fate would not still happened, but in humility there would be grace, grace which Oedipus did not receive due to his pride. Oedipus king of Thebes as great as he may be shares the common trait of all men and women, which is being a slave to fate in all of its mercy or cruelty. Oedipus’ fate aided by his pride led to his downfall which he had no control over. This play is an important lesson to all readers because “Men do not shape destiny, destiny produces the man for the hour.” – Fidel Castro, so be wary of your pride, because even if you may not chose your fate, your pride will determine the severity of your fate.
Works Cited
Lemnos, Philostrate de. “The Life of Apollonius of Tyana (the Epistles of Apollonius and Treatise of Eusebius).” The Life of Apollonius of Tyana (the Epistles of Apollonius and Treatise of Eusebius), translated by F. C. Conybeare, S.n., 1912, p. 365
Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Translated by Robert