Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Choice in Oedipus the King - Fates Triump

Destiny, Fate, Free leave and Choice in Oedipus the King - Fates TriumphAt the core of each tragedy there is a cruel remove of fortune involved. This change of fortune is a key factor in mans demise and it nookie endpoint in speculation that perhaps the gods plotted his ruin erupt of malice. To blame a higher power is the easy way to relieve the downfall, but upon further investigation it becomes clear that it is actually mans attempt to head for the hills his fate that leads to tragedy. Only when Oedipus was ruined did he realize his efforts to countermand what was pre-ordained were useless. Douglas Johnston states that excerption is at the heart of tragedy (Johnston 14). In Sophocles play Oedipus Rex Laius, Jocasta and Oedipus all look at to ignore Apollos oracle this decision, to attempt to escape fate, sets off a compass of events that leads to the defeat of these characters. We can only wonder how their lives may have differed if non for these fatal deci sions. If one assumes that any attempts to control ones destiny will result in tragedy does the opposite also ring true? possibly the way to cheat fate is simply to accept it. Even in advance his birth Laius and Jocasta have been told that their sons fate is to kill his father and marry his mother. They be determined to save themselves and decide that Oedipus must be killed before he is old enough to carry out the prophecy. This attempt to beat the gods straightway begins Oedipus journey to ruin as he grows up in nearby Corinth thinking that his pargonnts are King Polybus and Queen Merop. By assuming Polybus and Merop are his true parents Oedipus is in a situation where he can unwittingly kill his true father and marry his true mother. At the similar time Jocasta and Laiu... ...it is a natural human instinct to seek to avoid ones fate when one knows something bad will happen. Even if man knows he is headed for doom it is ones foolishness, determination and stubborn nature that makes one try to chip the losing battle against destiny. The destruction of Oedipus in Sophocles play is not an isolated detail rather it is a story whose lessons apply to all of mankind. Works Cited and Consulted Johnston, Douglas, and Brian Grandy. Hellenic Tragedy. Ascension Collegiate. 3 Oct. 2001<http//www.stemnet.nf.ca/hblake/tragedy1.html. Rose, Lloyd. The Greek Tragedy Doom Is Booming. Washington erect 20 Dec. 1998 G02. 2 Oct. 2001 <http//academics.vmi.edu/english/greekdrama.html. Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. An Introduction to Literature, 11th ed.Eds. Sylvan Barnet, et al. sensitive York Longman, 1997. 800-836.