One of the oldest human quandaries is the question of whether our lives are controlled by free will or fate. Some believe that we make choices that have consequences, thereby controlling our own lives. Others believe that fate controls our lives, and that all events are inevitable. Many who believe in fate believe in a higher being, usually a God of some form, that has ultimate control over our lives. Throughout history, most cultures have become less obsessed with the notion of gods and their ultimate control over the human condition. During the time of the Greeks, however, the idea of divine intervention was the driving force behind many of their cultural traditions. The Greeks were polytheistic and believed that the Gods were watching their every move, and acting accordingly. A lightning bolt might be thrown for someone acting out of line. In The Oedipus Cycle the theme of free will vs. fate is thoroughly examined through the tragedies of Oedipus, Jocasta, and several other characters. Sophocles justifies his belief in fate in telling the legend of Oedipus. .
In the Oedipus trilogy, most characters rely heavily on the words of prophets. In fact, the legend begins with a prophecy. In the beginning of Oedipus Rex, Creon is returning from the Oracle at Delphi. He brings news that the plague that has been causing the people of Thebes to suffer will only be lifted if Laius' murderer is banished from the city walls. Then, Creon receives another prophecy when Tiresias proclaims that the one who killed Laius is both father and brother to his own children. Similarly, Oedipus recalls a prophecy in which he was told that he would murder his father and sleep with his mother. Oddly, Oedipus failed to recognize the striking similarities between his own prophecy and that of Tiresias. Jocasta is representative of those who believe we control our own lives through free will. In Oedipus at Colonus, she states her belief clearly and confidently, while the reader cringes at her naiveté.