Free Will In Oedipus The King

In Oedipus there are many examples of people trying to avoid their fate and failing, thus revealing Sophacles beleif on the matter. For example, when Oedipus heard the prophecy that he would murder his father and kill his mother, he left his home. Unknowingly, he left his adoptive parents home, only to fulfill the prophecy with his real mother and father. In order to further his point, Sophacles wrote more than one example in Oedipus. Another one of these examples he made was out of Jocasta and

The prophecy states that he killed his father and that he married his mother. Oedipus, now concerned and worried of the situation, believes that all of these accusations are false. That being said, we observe his tragic flaw of pride in action. However, Oedipus still continues to pursue the murderer of king Laius and accomplish justice for the people of Thebes. As the story starts to conclude, he finds out that his actual parents could be Laius and his wife Jocasta.

Fully capable to act upon his own free will, Macbeth instead is driven by fate to his destruction which gives further insight of his character advancement. This fate and option of free will, is seen throughout the play yet shows itself prominent in Macbeth. With a strong presence throughout the book fate and free will finds its way in every aspect of the story. The first depiction of fate and free will in the play is the interaction between the witches and Macbeth. This instance is the start of the paradoxical path the story follows.

Oedipus heard a prophecy that he was going to kill his father and sleep with his mother, Oedipus doesn't believe Tiresias because he believes that his parents are in Corinth. When Oedipus demands that Tiresias tells the truth, Tiresias replies with saying that "I [Tiresias]

For Oedipus, it was him killing his father and marrying his mother because of the prophecy that couldn’t be escaped since all the actions he was trying to make to escape the prophecy are what caused it. In Oedipus’ case the readers could empathize and understand because he didn’t know that he killed his father or married his mother. He was attacked on

Because the prophecy decreed Banquo’s sons kings, Macbeth is worried about his legacy not being carried on, and Duncan’s death being for nothing. To prevent killing in vain, Macbeth decided to kill again. This vicious cycle leads to him giving up some of his self control every time he

That alone was enough for Hamlet a reason to kill his uncle even before knowing what his uncle had done. And another moment in which Hamlet had hesitated the most was when Hamlet and Ophelia’s Brother were sparring. And even in Hamlet’s false madness he could 've killed the king however Hamlet had no evidence and still wanted a proper death for claudius so Hamlet primarily used his false madness to buy time to retaliate. Hamlet was likely hesitant to kill a king. My argument is mostly theoretical.

Conflicts, such as man versus nature, man versus man, and man versus self, are used in these plays. Both plays teach a valuable lesson. Oedipus and Macbeth are kings who take a challenge that can define their future due to inadequacies within themselves. However, with the major difference that one act willingly and with full responsibility for his deed and the other fails because of admiration but mostly because of destiny. Both Oedipus and Macbeth were confronted and destroyed by a set of circumstances, Oedipus by fate and Macbeth by the witches and their prophecies.

Hamlet had the perfect opportunity to kill Claudius while he was praying, but he talked himself out of it. Instead of immediately avenging his father, Hamlet concocts a scheme to see if the ghost was lying to him. He over prepares his plans. His overthinking leads to obsession; his obsessions muddy his plans for revenge and further stall his actions. As Hamlet hesitates to act, his enemies are already acting against him.

Harding endured shocking abuse by her mother and husband. Whilst, Macbeth is manipulated by his wife to continue to kill and preserve his power. After Macbeth retracts his decision and decides not to kill King Duncan, Lady Macbeth questions her husband’s masculinity: “What beast was’t, then, / That made you break this enterprise to me? / When you durst do it, then you were a man; / And to be more than what you were, you would / Be so much more the man” (1.7.29). In this quotation, Lady Macbeth tells her husband he would be more of a man if he goes through with the murder, and keeps his word.