Oedipus Destiny and Fate Essay - 1333 Words

Although it is widely alleged that destiny is by choice, there are a vast number of people who believed that it is by fate. Those who believed it is by choice follow the directions and guidance of their elders. For example, they will try to hold on to the values that their parents instilled in them and use them to guide their entire lives. Others who believed that destiny is by fate, believe that the outcome of their lives is determined by luck, and that no matter what they do or how careful they are, whatever has to happen to them must happen. These proponents that emphasize that destiny is by fate may have gotten their belief from myth such as the story of Oedipus, which is a perfect illustration of how destiny is by fate. Just like†¦show more content†¦Throughout his childhood to manhood, Oedipus started to inherit little pieces of his past. But when he tried to obtain more information, no one would say anything. So he went to the Oracle of Delphi. There he was inform ed of his fate in an unclear way. When Oedipus heard of this, he left Corinth to avoid killing his adoptive father who he believes is his real father. On his way to Thebes, he runs into this chariot. It just so happens that this chariot had his birth father in it, but both father and son didn’t know nor recognize each other. They got into a heated fight because Laius ordered him out of the road. Oedipus thought of this demand as being an insult, and furthermore killed his father and his guards (Fun Trivia). As you can see, no matter how it’s sought out, whether knowing consciously or not, fate is going to come true. According to the story, â€Å"Oedipus the King† (trans. By Stephen Berg), a famous part of Oedipus’s life was when he came across the Sphinx at the cross roads that asks riddles to travelers. No one ever passed this intersection to or from Thebes because no one ever got one of his riddles correct. The specific riddle he asked Oedipus was: â€Å"What walks on four in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three at night?† Oedipus answered, â€Å" Man; as an infant he crawls on all four, as an adult he walks on two legs, and in old age he relies on a walking stick.† He was the first to answer a riddle correctly, which caused theShow MoreRelatedOedipus The King, Fate And Destiny1201 Words   |  5 Pagesplay, â€Å"Oedipus the King†. In case you did not know, Sophocles is from Greece. In Greek mythology there are three goddesses who preside over the birth and life of humans. Each person s destiny was thought of as a thread spun, measured, and cut by the three Fates, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. In the story â€Å"Oedipus the King† fate and destiny was the main theme. On Google the definition of destiny is the events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future. Fate is definedRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - The Fate of Oedipus1239 Words   |  5 PagesThe Fate of Oedipus in Oedipus the King    In Oedipus the King there comes a point in the play where Oedipus learns something that plays an important role throughout the play.  Ã‚   He learns from a   oracle that he will eventually kill his own Father and sleep with his own mother.   As one could imagine this is a shock to Oedipus, and he does not believe the oracle.   However, he cannot prevent any of this from happening because it is his fate.   Oedipus is a victim of circumstancesRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Driven by Fate1105 Words   |  5 PagesThe Role of Fate in Oedipus Rex Before we approach this complex question inductively, we are at first obliged to contemplate what definitions and assumptions are being made. This essay, perhaps more so than others, requires a more extensive look at this aspect of the question, because of the sheer variety of possible responses. However, I now have reduced them to three possibilities. Firstly, we could make the assumption that perhaps as destiny controls all fates, then Oedipus character wasRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Victim of Fate3445 Words   |  14 PagesThe Victim of Fate in Oedipus Rex The question has been raised as to whether Oedipus was a victim of fate or of his own actions.   This essay will show that Oedipus was a victim of fate, but he was no puppet because he freely and actively sought his doom, although he was warned many times of the inevitable repercussions of his actions. When first considering this topic, I speculated that maybe it was the destiny of Oedipus to suffer, but a friend asked me to explain why Oedipus, in the actRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Fate and the Modern World966 Words   |  4 PagesOedipus Rex, Fate, and the Modern World  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the two thousand since â€Å"Oedipus Rex† was written, it has been analyzed and dissected innumerable times and in every possible way.   Usually the analysis has been within the context of the play itself or within the context of other Greek tragedies.   Perhaps it would be more relevant and interesting to evaluate the play within the context of the modern world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In his play Sophocles brings up many questions which are not easily answeredRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King3894 Words   |  16 PagesThe Concept of Fate in Oedipus Rex  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To the first-time reader of Sophocles’ tragedy, Oedipus Rex, it seems that the gods are in complete domination of mankind. This essay will seek to show that this is not the case because the presence of a tragic flaw within the protagonist is shown to be the cause of his downfall.    In the opening scene of the tragedy the priest of Zeus itemizes for the king what the gods have done to the inhabitants of Thebes:    A blight isRead More Boundaries of Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King1282 Words   |  6 PagesBoundaries of Fate and Free Will in Oedipus the King    The ancient Greeks firmly believed that the universe was guided strictly by order and fate. In Oedipus the King, Sophocles has examined the relationship between free will and fate, suggesting that free will paradoxically exists inside the boundaries of fate. It may be concluded, however, that man has free will and is ultimately held responsible for his own actions.    Oedipus destruction was brought about by a combination of fate and freeRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Defining Fate1000 Words   |  4 PagesFate in Oedipus Rex      Ã‚  Ã‚   During ancient times, the Greeks believed very strongly in a concept called fate.   What is fate?   Fate can be defined as a cause beyond human control that determines events.   It can also be defined as the outcome or end of some sort.   In Oedipus Rex, King Oedipus is a character that lived by fate and died by fate.   This element of fate truly impacted the storyline and the plot, while allowing for some interesting developments that may have been unforeseen byRead MoreDestiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Role of Fate635 Words   |  3 PagesThe Role of Fate in Oedipus the King In Oedipus the King, one can easily see the tragedy that comes when Oedipus lives out fate, although not of his own intentions. Oedipus did everything in his own power in order to keep the prophecies from being fulfilled. One might even say that Oedipus ran from fate. Webster defines tragedy as a medieval narrative poem or tale typically describing the downfall of a great man. Oedipus the King is certainly a tragedy, and as Dr. Lucas states in his blogRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - The Paradox of Free Will1318 Words   |  6 PagesA Paradox: Oedipuss Free will in the Play Oedipus Rex William Shakespeare once wrote, Who can control his fate? (Othello, Act v, Sc.2).  A hero and leader must acknowledge above all else his honor, and the pride of his image.   In ancient Greek beliefs, a hero was a man who stood taller than the rest; he was able to better any conflict.   He did this not for himself or for any token award that may be given to him, but for the security of his fellow man.   Physical strength and superior wit are