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.

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.

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. The witches tell Macbeth his fate is to be king and that no man born of woman will be able to harm his life.

When Oedipus demands that Tiresias tells the truth, Tiresias replies with saying that "I [Tiresias]

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

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.

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; /