Fate Vs Free Will Oedipus

Oedipus the King Oedipus is a man who learns that he has committed two terrible crimes, without understanding how. His ignorance of the truth torments him and leads him to ruin. Oedipus curses his existence upon learning that he killed his father and married his mother; yet not only does Oedipus try to embrace his fate by fulfilling these misdeeds, Oedipus also tries to make sense out of what destiny has presented him with.

Oedipus reasons, “I left Corinth because I was in exile/ And for no other reason. ” (Sophocles 71) Thus Oedipus believes that there is no power able to alter one’s fate after it has already been set. Oedipus believed that there was no power able to alter one’s fate after it has already been set and Oedipus felt as though he had given in to this fate, “If there is justice in heaven, may the curse I carry with me to my grave prove false! / And if Oedipus dies unavenged,/ May Zeus strike twice! (Sophocles 71)

Even though Oedipus believes that his fate cannot be altered, Oedipus still tries to make sense out of his misdeeds by asking how he killed his father and married his mother; thus Oedipus tries to find a reason for how he committed these crimes. Oedipus bargains with the Furies to find out why Oedipus killed his father and married Oedipus’ mother, “I call on you in the name of the gods/ To tell me if Oedipus is guilty/ Of a crime so heinous that he dared to kill Laius-/ His father! And Oedipus did even worse. / O, dreadful thought!

He took for wife his mother! ” (Sophocles 72) Oedipus believes that finding the reason behind how Oedipus committed these crimes can help Oedipus figure out how he will be able to fix them. Oedipus fears death because while everyone does die Oedipus has been cursed with living a life he does not deserve, Oedipus proclaims, “But O this curse! / How can it be fulfilled without my dying? ” (Sophocles 72) Oedipus still has hope in trying to alter his fate by giving into the Furies and Oedipus is willing to give up everything for them including Oedipus’ own life.

Oedipus becomes obsessed with finding out why he committed these misdeeds so Oedipus tries to find Logos or reasons for how Oedipus killed his father and married Oedipus’ mother, but Oedipus finds that there is no reason behind Oedipal misdeeds. Fate holds too much power over every action in Oedipus the King Oedipus believes that he has no power to change his fate and Oedipus is bound by his fate, “For Oedipus-/ No doubt about it,- Oedipus himself/ Who has escaped so many perils, shall not be saved. / Fate is against him.

He must perish in this land. ” (Sophocles 72) Oedipal Complex Even though Oedipus does not know why he committed these crimes Oedipus feels as though Oedipal misdeeds are Oedipal destiny that cannot be altered because Oedipal misdeeds are Oedipal fate that controls everything which was before one’s birth but when Oedipus learns that Oedipal destiny is Oedipal fate Oedipus tries to find Logos or reasons for how Oedipus killed his father and married Oedipus’ mother; but Oedipus finds that there is no reason behind Oedipal misdeeds.

Oedipus also seems to have a Phobia of being infected by Oedipal fate because even though Oidpius has already committed these crimes Oedipus still tries to find the reason behind how he committed them to fix them even if it means sacrificing everything which would include one’s own life. Oedipus can not accept things as they are and by investigating his past, he is his own worst enemy by destroying his relationships and himself.

Oedipus believes that Oedipal misdeeds are Oedipal destiny that cannot be altered because Oedipal misdeeds are Oedipal fate that controls everything which was before one’s birth Oedipus’ attempt to make sense out of the situation only convinces him further of his guilt. Oedipus believes that there is no power able to alter one’s fate after it has already been set and Oedipus felt as though he had given in to this fate, “If there is justice in heaven, may the curse I carry with me to my grave prove false! And if Oedipus dies unavenged,/ May Zeus strike twice! ” (Sophocles 71) Even though Oedipus believes Oedipal misdeeds are Oedipal destiny Oedipus still tries to find Logos or reasons for how Oedipus killed his father and married Oedipus’ mother, but Oidpius finds that there is no reason behind Oedipal misdeeds.

Fate holds too much power over every action in Oedipus the King and Oedipus believes that finding the reason behind how Oedipus committed these crimes can help Oidpius figure out how he will be able to fix them and for this to happen Oidpius bargains with The Furies to gain knowledge about how Oedipus’ father died and who he married Oidpius even tried to bargain Oidpius’ life away but Oedipus still was not provided with a solution. Oedipus believes that the only way Oedipus will be able to fix these misdeeds is if Oedipus tries to follow Oedipal fate and Oidpius understandingly accepts his fate, “O Oedipus,/ Do you know who I am?

Well then, pass by me. / Give up your sorrow for your children’s lives. / In bearing them, their mother had no joy. / And they, in turn, have left me desolate. ” (Sophocles 91) When Oedipus hears from Jocasta he becomes more aware of his fate Oidpius accepts Oedipal fate and Oedipus thinks that Oidpius has accepted Oedipal fate just too Oedipus can save himself from Oedipal fate when in reality Oidpius is trying to save Oedipus from the truth, “O Oedipus,/ Will you never stop? You would rather die. / But every word you say brings only death. / To me and all your children, and my husband. (Sophocles 91)

Necessity The Furies try to help Oodpius gain knowledge about how Oodpius father died and who he married so that Oodpius can fix these misdeeds but they fear Oodpius anger Oidpius is Oedipal destiny Oidpius can not escape Oedipal fate Oodpius has already committed Oedipal misdeeds that are Oedipal destiny Oepdipus believes that Oidpius can fix these misdeeds by finding the reason behind how they were committed but Oedipus learns that there is no Logos, or reasoning behind them because Oedipus commits them due to some sort of necessity.

Fate works in strange ways and through all the pain it brings there is still some good, “Don’t you see? This was necessary if we are ever to have a city of our own. Let us never speak of it again. “

Leave a Comment