Throughout the play "Oedipus Rex," the playwright Sophocles, show's an underlying relationship between fate and free will. Both theories are intrinsic in Oedipus's destruction which has already been foretold. Sophocles uses the image of a crossroad as a primal symbol to show that man is free to choose and is ultimately held responsible for their own actions. Oedipus allowed the prophecy to a certain degree, to influence his conduct. He was destined from birth to marry his mother and kill his father. However, Oedipus's self-determining search for the truth is the sole reason the prophecy was fulfilled.
From the start of this tragedy, Oedipus made many decisions which consequently led to his demise. Sophocles characterizes Oedipus the king as a loyal and honorable man who like many individuals also contain an excessive amount of pride. That specific flaw affected Oedipus's decision making process. He could have waited for the plague to end, but out of empathy for his people he sent Creon to search for a solution. Even when he heard Apollo's message Oedipus decided hastily to curse the murderer. In doing so he unintentionally curses himself. "Now my curse on the murderer. Whoever he is, a lone man unknown in his crime or one among many, let that man drag out his life in agony, step by painful step- I curse myself as well " (Line 280-284). Oedipus's hubris and intransigent quest for the truth sequentially contributed to his downfall. "How terrible to seek the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees! "(P.g. 176). Upon hearing this from Tiresias, Oedipus inadvertently lets his emotions control him by suddenly accusing Tiresias of the crime. It is not until the blind prophet Tiresias says, "Creon is not your downfall, no you are your own," " (pg.181; line 432) that Oedipus's decisions will affect the rate in which the prophecy comes to light. .
Despite Oedipus's determined search for the truth, he knowingly ignored the warnings given to him by other characters in the play.
The contrast between light and dark, and blindness and sight plays a large role throughout Oedipus Rex. ... Oedipus Rex is a play full of paradox. ... Tiresias, a prophet, who can see the future and knows what will happen to Oedipus, is physically blind. ... Oedipus comes to Thebes a hero; solving the Sphinx's riddle and setting Thebes free from her curse. ... Oedipus Rex is an account of Oedipus" quest for truth. ...
"Oedipus Rex" is a classic Greek tragedy. ... However, "Oedipus Rex" is a tragedy. ... Sophocles believed that man had free will, yet is controlled by a larger order. ... "Oedipus Rex" is a play of destiny. ... "Oedipus Rex" is a much deeper work than that. ...
Oedipus's parents, with their free will chose to send their baby away in exile. ... Despite these choices made with free will, fate prevailed. ... Oedipus Rex vividly illustrates how the Greeks struggled between Fate and free will. These examples show how, with free will, Oedipus and his parents made choices to elude fate, but also, how fate triumphed in the end. ... One particular theme was one of triumph of Fate over free will. ...
In Sophocles's play "Oedipus Rex- Oedipus Even though "fate" seems to determine Oedipus' life, . he does infact have a free will. ... You will not tell? ... What it will take?" ... Oedipus Rex - Bliss in Ignorance Oedipus Rex - Bliss in Ignorance One of the most memorable and meaningful Socratic quotes applies well when in context of Sophocles' Theban Trilogy. ... Yet in terms of Sophoclean drama, specifically Oedipus Rex,...
The tragedy of Oedipus Rex focuses on the theme of personal responsibility and the quest of self knowledge. ... The tragedy of Oedipus Rex is based upon the theme of self knowledge, and the acknowledgment of where ones fate lies. ... By these words alone Oedipus used his free will to condemn himself. ... After the persistent badgering and belittling of the highly respected soothsayer, Teiresias speaks the truth to Oedipus against his will knowing what the truth will bring his downfall. ... If one choices to believe in fate, they very well might believe in free will. ...
In the play "Oedipus Rex," by Sophocles (rpt. ... After this all took place, Oedipus carried on his way into Thebes where he ran into a sphinx who had the whole place captured and the sphinx told Oedipus if you can solve this riddle I will let everyone free. ... He had free will because he is the one who snapped and killed the men on the path, he did it with his own free will and out of anger about everything that he had just heard. ... As you can see he did clearly exercise free will to create his own fate. ... In this play Oedipus Rex, Oedipus was destined to kill his father and beget child...
Oedipus Rex Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, (as translated by Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald), is replete with dramatic devices - one of which is known as Sophoclean Irony. ... Both types of irony will be examined in this paper and passages from the text will be cited in support of this thesis. ... After sending his brother-in-law, Creon, back to the Delphic oracle for a reading, Oedipus learns that the second drought will not be lifted until Laios" killer is found and punished. ... Our second example of conscious irony occurs moments later in the conversation when Tiresias know that Oed...
Oedipus threatens the killer of King Laius. ... Let him be free of no misery if he shares my house or sits at my hearth and I have knowledge of it. ... "I will fight for him as I would my own murdered father." ... The conclusion of Oedipus the King is also essential in classifying Oedipus as a tragic character. ... Sophocles developed a mysteriously enchanting tragic character, Oedipus Rex. ...
In the beginning of Oedipus Rex, Creon is returning from the Oracle at Delphi. ... It could be argued however, that Oedipus used free-will because his actions provoked the wrath of the Gods. ... Oedipus exhibits his free will at other points in the story, and similarly, these actions don't deter fate. ... - --Oedipus Rex, Line 606 This is a prime example of how Oedipus' use of free will only continues to fulfill the prophecy. ... Oedipus, and everyone else in the legend is doomed by fate, no matter how much free will they may brandish. ...