ipl-logo

Free Will In Oedipus The King And Julius Caesar

1585 Words7 Pages

One of the many philosophies examined in both Sophocles, Oedipus the King and William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar is fate versus free will. In both dramatic plays, the idea that fate and free can work side by side is supported. Shakespeare and Sophocles allow the theme of fate and free will to wind its way into the downfall of major characters in world literature. In Oedipus and Julius Caesar there are different interpretations of the concept of fate and freewill. Each has different fates and limits of free will that contributes to their death. As we look into Julius Caesar, Cassius, the plotter despised Caesar, claiming that Caesar is feeble, womanish, and sick. He believes that he is just as commendable human being as Caesar. He resented the …show more content…

They both agree on the fact that fate led to death. Cassius, ceasar’s and Brutus death was by fate even if Cesar accepted his fate. In each play the main characters were warned about their upcoming events. In Julius Caesar, the Soothsayer conveys to Caesar, "Beware the ides of March," (Shakespeare 1.2.103). For on March 15th, it is predicted that something bad will happen to Caesar. In Oedipus the King, the Oracle of Delphi prophesied that Oedipus would kill his father and sleep with his mother: "You are fated to couple with your mother...you will kill your father, the one who gave you life!" (Sophocles 873-875). Despite this comparison, they both reacted to their fate in different ways. Caesar is too egotistical and ambitious and chose to ignore the Soothsayer: "He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass," (Shakespeare 1.2.110), while Oedipus took it the oracle very seriously and fled Corinth: "I heard all that and I ran. I abandoned Corinth," (Sophocles Line 876). Another similarity is that both Oedipus and Caesar were caught in a series of situations, which eventually lead to their demise. Oedipus kills an old man without knowing that he had just fulfilled his fate by killing his father on his way away from his adopted parents. Caesar was driven by his ambition and arrogance that he ignored the warnings by the soothsayer and his wife, Calpurnia, to walk into his death at. They are both are led to their death because of

Show More
Related

  • Julius Caesar Hero Quotes

    594 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Men at some times are masters of their fates” (Shakespeare. I. 2. 139). These famous words spoken to Brutus by Cassius describes how people should not let fate define them and should take hold of the reins of life. In William Shakespeare’s, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Julius Caesar is plotted against by a group of conspirators, led by Brutus and Cassius, and is assassinated. But by taking fate into his hands, Brutus ultimately brings upon his own untimely death.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Free Will In The Odyssey

    437 Words  | 2 Pages

    A main theme throughout The Odyssey is the idea of fate vs. free will, which is also largely consistent throughout Oedipus Rex. However, instead of exclusively exploring the involvement of both fate and free will in the human condition, Sophocles analyzes the limits of human free will and the consequences of ignoring or attempting to avoid fate. Throughout the play, we see both Oedipus and his parents constantly running from their fate. They make almost every possible move to avoid their inevitable fate. Through this presentation of free will, Sophocles suggests that although humans have the independence to make their own choices, these choices will ultimately result in whatever condition they were predestined to encounter.

    Read More

  • Loyalty In Oedipus The King

    315 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Oedipus The King, by Sophocles, Oedipus is given a prophecy from Apollo that he must slay his father and marry his mother. Frighten by this he decides to run away hoping that the prophecy doesn’t follow him. During his journey, he runs into a man and ends up killing him and also defeats the sphinx, making him the new king of Thebes. Shortly after being the king, it has come to his attention that the former king of Thebes has been murdered. He quickly demands to know who the killer is.

    Read More

  • What Is Oedipus Fatal Flaw

    1053 Words  | 5 Pages

    Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, is really a story about the necessity of placing more faith in others and their counsel than in oneself and one’s own beliefs. Repeatedly the titular character is pleaded with to listen to and accept the advice of those around him and each time he refuses to obey. Ultimately, Oedipus’ tendency to do perform the actions he would prefer to do rather than to allow his family to help guide him leads to his downfall and loss of the throne. A common characteristic of Greek tragedy is the “fatal flaw” of the main character and how this flaw leads to the character’s misfortune.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Fate Vs Free Will

    1004 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare uses his characters to argue that fate and free will are equally important ideologies that need to be prevalent in society. Fate is an important concept in Julius Caesar. William Shakespeare argues that fate is a determining factor for life and that death is predetermined. Near the start of the play, the soothsayer tells Caesar, “Beware the ides of March” (1.2.28). This is the first instance in which death is foretold.

    Read More

  • Oedipus The King Research Paper

    1739 Words  | 7 Pages

    Before “Oedipus the King” actually starts, there is some background information that everyone in the audience should know before watching the play. In the introduction before the play, Laius and Jocasta were told a horrible prophecy , that their son would kill his father and marry his mother. To make sure the prophecy does not come true, they give the baby to a shepherd to be taken to the mountain side, to be killed by exposure. The shepherd felt bad and gave the baby to another shepherd who gave him to the king and queen of Corinth, Polybus and Merope. Oedipus is told by a drunk man that Polybus and Merope are not his real parents.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Brutus Foil Essay

    1045 Words  | 5 Pages

    In William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, Cassius is a foil to Marcus Brutus, for Brutus is consistently described as honorable and kind, contrasting the always clever and self-centered, Cassius. Cassius acts as a character who goes against the virtues and weaknesses of the main character. Brutus announces, “Why man, he doth bestride the narrow World like a Colossus, and we pretty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about To find ourselves dishonorable graves” (Shakespeare I. 2. 142-145). By appealing to Brutus' feeling of honor and loyalty to Rome, Cassius hopes to persuade him to join the conspiracy against Caesar.

    Read More

  • Oedipus Rex Critical Lens Essay

    498 Words  | 2 Pages

    Critical Lens As said by Benjamin Disraeli in Contarini Fleming, “Circumstances are beyond the control of man; but his conduct is in his own power.” Although this quote originates from 1832, centuries before Oedipus the King was published, its logic can still be applied to Sophocles’ play. Disraeli is saying that no one can help the circumstances they are born in, but everyone has the capability to live how they want. At face-value, this may seem true; in the end everyone has the ability to make a decision. Yet, it is their circumstances that drive the choices people make.

    Read More

  • Flaws In Oedipus The King

    583 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is often said that pride comes before a down fall, but pride must first trip over the truth The downfall of Oedipus is due to flaws in his character. Throughout the play “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles, Oedipus’s character has led him to make judgements that were not in his best interest. These flaws are pride, leading to overconfidence and having poor judgement. Oedipus character also show determination which throughout the play also became a flaw as well. The character of Oedipus is ruled by fate.

    Read More

  • The Twofold Foils In Julius Caesar

    871 Words  | 4 Pages

    Also, Antony used a fake Caesar’s will to gain more power. Lastly, ambition and conflict play another themes. Caesar was an ambitious man and so was Cassius. However, they both die due to their

    Read More

  • Story Of Oedipus The King

    813 Words  | 4 Pages

    There was a mountain named Mount Cithaeron. On one side of the mountain was the city Corinth, where King Polybus and Queen Merope, who were unable to have children, lived. One day a citizen came to them with a gift. It was a child who was found on the mountain with stakes in his ankles. They decided to adopt the child and name him Oedipus, which means ‘swollen foot’.

    Read More

  • Omens In Julius Caesar

    951 Words  | 4 Pages

    In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare includes prophets, omens, and natural phenomenon that point to the tragic end of the three main characters: Julius Caesar, Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius. Writing a play based on such a well known historical event, Shakespeare’s audience would have known the outline of the events before entering the theater. Therefore, the inclusion of the omens would have served as a reminder for his audience. Though the omens suggest a sense of predetermination that would have satisfied the historical outlook of the audience, it is abundantly clear that it is the choices that those characters make that dooms them. Ultimately, Shakespeare suggests that it is the flaws of the main characters that leads

    Read More

  • Oedipus The King Research Paper

    1224 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the earlier years Oedipus visits Delphi and learns that he was fated to kill his father and marry his mother. He then planned to never return to Corinth. In the play "Oedipus the King", the author presents us with several

    Read More

  • Hamlet Fate Vs Free Will

    692 Words  | 3 Pages

    Though he gives his best effort to defeat his fate, Oedipus still ultimately fails to do so and in fact fulfills the prophecy. Though the two plays were written in different times, Oedipus Rex has a direct correlation with Shakespeare's

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Comedy And Comedy

    1824 Words  | 8 Pages

    Through the outcomes of both plays, the audience is able to receive some hard truths and be confronted with reality. In their respective ways, the two plays reveal truths about the human experience in the way that the plays are symbolic of very real human or societal problems. Sophocles’ Greek tragedy, Oedipus Rex, has a fateful plot with a tragic ending. His play follows the conventions of tragedy, implementing plot, character development,

    Read More

More about Free Will In Oedipus The King And Julius Caesar

Open Document