We People Are Capble Control Of Our Own Fate

We People Are Capble Control Of Our Own Fate

Fate and Freewill

"Oedipus the King", written by Sophocles between C.A. 496-405 B.C. is an example of Sophocles' belief that fate controls a man's life despite his capability of free will. Is life decided by fate, in that there is some master plan for our lives? Do we go through life making chance decisions without purpose? If life is pre-determined by fate, are we responsible for our actions? The Greeks believed heavily in prophecies, pre-determined life, and divine laws. Fate and freewill are explored and brought to light in the play through the main character, Oedipus. Oedipus is influenced by his inner strengths (free will and pride) and uncontrollable forces (fate). While Oedipus has free will to make his own decisions, fate continues to reveal itself in the end. Sophocles shows how no one has control over their life, and that fate is more powerful than evil.

At the moment of his birth, Oedipus seems to have a pre-determined set of events that would lead to his own destruction. Although he has free will, the decisions he makes are set within the limits of fate and end up bringing the prophecy to life. The author suggests that humans have free will, but are limited by higher order that controls our path in life. For example, the God Apollo tells Oedipus, "You are fated to couple with your mother, you will bring a breed of children into the light no man can bear to see-you will kills your father, the one who gave you life!" (844) Here, Apollo reveals Oedipus' fate and starts him on his path in life. Little known to him, hearing his future leads him closer to his fate. Seconds after hearing Apollo's words, Oedipus tells Jocasta, "I heard all that and ran. I abandoned Corinth always running towards some place where I would never see the shame of all those oracles come true." (844) Oedipus believes in prophets, but feels he can avoid pre-determined life by fleeing the city of his second parents. His running turns out to be his first steps down his pre-conceived path in life. Oedipus runs from the prophecy and kills a man at "that very spot where the great king, you say, met his death." (844) That man turned out to be his father. The author shows how Oedipus' choices in life did not make a difference in his future. His running from Corinth proved that his life was pre-determined by fate and nothing could be done to change it. His free will and choice to avoid fate actually brought his closer.

Oedipus believes Apollo's words about his future and leaves Corinth in hopes to change the future, but Sophocles shows how trying to outsmart fate will only lead one to it. In fact, Oedipus wavers between believing in prophets. Oedipus further shows his confidence in the prophets when asks what he can do to help save his ...