Fate of oedipus
Fate of oedipusSophocles Oedipus Tyrannus is a tragic play that discusses the tragic discovery of Oedipus that he has killed his father and married his mother. In Greek mythology, oracles or gods are rarely wrong in their predictions of the future. Yet Oedipus still tries to fight the predictions. Is Oedipus' downfall due to an error in judgement or his lack of control over his destiny? I believe that Oedipus never really has any control over his destiny. Oedipus is a shrewd man furnished with wit and intellect. But none of these traits could help him change his predetermined destiny. His tragic destiny had already been determined before he was born. His every intention only brings him closer to his downfall.
Oedipus' tragic destiny started when he was born. From the day he was born, Oedipus could not choose how he wants to live. He can only live the life that was set up for him. An oracle told his real parents - Laius and Jocasta that Laius would die at the hands of his own child. Out of fear, they pinned Oedipus' ankles and handed him to a shepherd to abandon him to death. " Jocasta: � An oracle came to Laius " (p. 17) to "�to cast upon a deserted mountain path - die."(p. 17). But instead of killing the infant, the shepherd gave him to another shepherd who then gave Oedipus to the King Polybus of Corinth. So this poor child survived to continue his tragic destiny.
As Oedipus grows up, he becomes a self-confident, intelligent, and strong willed person. That is the kind of role that is cost for him by destiny. A drunken stranger tells him that he is not the son of King Polybus. His strong will drives him to ask an oracle about his parents. The oracle does not answer his question, but tells him that he would kill his father whom Oedipus believes to be King Polybus and marry his mother. In the fear of these events taking place, he leaves his home. "Oedipus: � my father was Polybus of Corinth� " (p. 18) to " � where I could never see that infamous prophecy fulfilled." (p.19). And his fate becomes reality.
Instead of escaping from the prophecy's prediction Oedipus runs right into his fate. On a road leading to Thebes he kills his real father King Laius - in a quarrel. But Oedipus does not realize that he has killed his real father - King Laius. "Oedipus: �And as I traveled," to " �I killed them all." (P.19). Oedipus has no control over his fate that leads him to the road where he kills his father. Oedipus led by fate, reaches Thebes. The city of Thebes was then tormented by the mythological monster - the Sphinx....
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