Fate and Freewill in Oedipus the King Essay - 819 Words

In the play Oedipus Rex, it shows many different forms of fate and freewill. Fate is a word that can be defined in many different ways. Fate can affect a persons life in many different ways. Oedipuss fate ruined his life and lead him to a horrible death. Antigones life was also thrown out to the hand of fate. Neither one of them had any freewill in there lifetime, all of there lives were based upon the fate that the gods handed to them. Both of these elements, fate and freewill, play a large role in the telling of the story of Oedipus Rex. Was his life really left to fate or was it left up to him? In most tragic plays fate and freewill play a large role in the rise and fall of the protagonist. The protagonist in a play has†¦show more content†¦Oedipus led the exact life that was prophesied, Oedipus had little choices to make in his life. I believe that most of the events that happened to Oedipus were left to the hand of fate. Oedipus was trying to escape his own fate by traveling a different way then what he had thought was his hometown. Fate is something that no human being can run from, no matter what they do or where they hide. This was a choice that Oedipus made, which added to the answer of what Oedipuss character flaw was. Oedipuss character flaw was that he was ignorant throughout his life, he never saw things as what they really were, he only saw them as how he wanted to see them. Fate is a element in life that can not be changed or be foretold. Oedipus had no way of changing his own fate or anyway from running from it. People cannot change there fate, as much as they think that they can. People, along with Oedipus believe that they can control there lives and that fate plays no role in there lives. But people do not understand that control is an illusion and is nothing more then something for people to believe in so that they do not feel scared, while living in this world that is based upon fate. People will always think that they control there lives even no they do not. Freewill is also an illusion that is put out by society, people believe that society gives them choices but really everybodys life isShow MoreRelatedThe Tragedy Of Oedipus The King1365 Words   |  6 P agesAlthough Sophocles’ Oedipus the King seems to be a play merely focused on the tragedy that is the tale of Oedipus, it is actually a commentary on defying the gods for the reason that one is blindly believing in supernatural entities and allowing those entities to govern one’s fate. The tragedy of Oedipus the King revolves around a king’s downfall as he tries to save his people from utter destruction. His curiosity and drive to save his city brings him to the realization that not only has his entireRead MoreWhat Does Oedipus the King Show Us About Greek Thought on Fate, Gods, and Free Will?1321 Words   |  5 PagesWhat does Oedipus the King show us about Greek thought on Fate, the gods, and free will? 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