An ironic point in this explanation is the fact that Oedipus was meant to die on the mounts of Cithaeron. Because Cithaeron is a mountain, had Oedipus died as an infant, he would have died high born both figuratively and literally. Finally, Oedipus is a beloved king. Oedipus calls out to his people saying, “Oh my children” (1). When Oedipus proclaims to his people this way he resembles a compassionate and caring leader.
Oedipus has a fallout with Creon; a minor bout resulting from an argument with Teiresias, the blind prophet, but this pales in comparison to later repercussions. Unable to cope with the reality Oedipus had bestowed upon her, Jocasta hanged herself causing Oedipus much grief. Prior to, Teiresias stated, “[Oedipus,] you are living in unguessed shame” (135). He prophesied the shame Oedipus would subdue to. And at its climax, the chorus, representing his Theban people, disavowed King Oedipus and his contributions to Thebes saying it would have been better without him.
Why him in particular? Why should nature punish him so severely? Within the play, many instances bring the thought that Oedipus’s life has been predestined. A typical example is Tiresias’s statement: “It is not fate that I should be your ruin, Apollo is enough; it is his care to work this out” (Oedipus the King, lines 376-378). This statement brings into question the influence of supernatural forces within Oedipus’ life.
And soon their double curse-your father's and your mother's- will lash you out of Thebes on terror-stricken feet. With these lines, Oedipus starts to question his life and history inside but does not reflects it to the people. In fact, he is shocked because of that situation but he can't run away from the truth. So he starts to look for explanation but can't deal with it. The tragedy of Oedipus is really questionable because the reality in Oedipus's soul is unknown but it is clear that he is surprised by life because of the fact that he was not the man that he thinks.
Throughout the tragedy of Oedipus the King, Oedipus displays his imperfectly noble being for all to see. While Oedipus had saved the Thebans from the Sphinx’s riddle, Oedipus’s nobel pride and anger lead to his destruction as he attempted to find Laios’s murderer. In his mistreatment of Teiresias, and his false allegations towards Creon being a usurper, Oedipus shows his imperfectly noble character as he foolishly attempts to fight fate and the gods will. Oedipus and his imperfectly noble nature appear again and again as he attempts to solve the murder of the previous King. Oedipus first showed his nature at the beginning of the play, when he first made his proclamation to the people of Thebes, announcing a curse on any person, including
Oedipus discovered that fate is what brought him his luxury and his downfall. Even when the course of life is altered, fate can never be
Oedipus’s wrongdoings were caused by his actions but fate plays a role in controlling his life. A person might ask what is fate? Fate is the story of your life written with ink so it could not be changed, so free will does not exist because everything a person does is destined to be their fate. For Oedipus the king, his fate was more like hell on earth. Even before he was born the prophecies that were sent for his parents about him were not so good.
The events in Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, show an underlying relationship of man 's free will existing within the cosmic order or fate which the Greeks believed guided the universe in a harmonious purpose. Man was free to choose and was ultimately held responsible for his own actions. Both the concept of fate and free will played an it regal part in Oedipus ' destruction. Although he was a victim of fate, he was not controlled by it. Oedipus was destined from birth to someday marry his mother and to murder his father.
Men were constantly trying to prove themselves, something that still happens today but not in as physical of a way, so fighting, that could sometimes lead to death, was not that uncommon. Oedipus was unaware that the man was of royalty, and frankly, even if Oedipus did know, Oedipus was royal himself. He killed this man as a form of toxic masculinity, something all too common at the
This event ultimately comes to pass (Oedipus Rex). Sophocles’ stories generally revolve around the influence of fate and free will in ancient Greek life. Whether his characters try to outsmart or avoid fate such as Oedipus or simply accept their fate with open arms such as Antigone. Fate is defined as “the will or principle or determining cause by which things in general are believed to come to be as they are or events to happen as they do (Merriam Webster Dictionary).” Free will