Theme Of Fate And Free Will In Oedipus The King

Oedipus the King The question of fate or free will is prominent throughout Oedipus the King. This meaning was man’s future laid out by fate or did his own choices create his own future. This issue is shown throughout some character in Oedipus the King. Throughout the reading man’s own choices created his future which was also destined to be their fate. Jocasta and King Laius have a son named Oedipus, which means swollen foot. Laius is told that his son will grow up and murder him. Once Laius learns this he decides to take matters into his own hands and try and change his fate. He took a wooden stick and drove it through his ankles and hobbles him, he then gives him to a shepherd and tells the shepherd to take him to the mountain and leave him there. The shepherd took baby Oedipus to a Corinthian shepherd and Oedipus is given to King Polybus and Queen Merope who could not have children. King Laius was later murdered by his son who he thought to be dead. King Laius’s own choices of sending the shepherd to the mountain is what got himself killed. If he would have brought Oedipus himself and made sure he was dead the prophecy of his son murdering him would not have come true. King Laius own choices created his future and fulfilled his determined fate. Oedipus grew up thinking King Polybus and Queen Merope were his birth parents. He acts swiftly and tries to figure everything out. He is an intelligent and curious man which will eventually get him into trouble. Oedipus is told he will grow up to kill his father, sleep with his mother, and exile himself. After hearing, this he leaves from
King Laius thought he was controlling his fate, but his choices led him right to his death. Oedipus thought he was controlling his fate as well, but his choices made the prophecy come true. This shows that man’s life is not only determined by fate, but also by the choices made that brings them to their