Oedipus

Oedipus' Downfall

In the play, "Oedipus Tyrannus" written by Sophocles, in order for us to judge Oedipus we must look at the events that transpired and look at how Oedipus reacts to these events and what actions he takes towards them. By doing, this we will see that Oedipus is only partially responsible for brining about the disastrous event that was the Gods predicted at his birth. During the time, this play was "Sophocles", the Greek people believed heavily in prophecies, pre-determined life and divine laws. In the following paragraphs, we will see that his inner strengths and uncontrollable forces influenced Oedipus.

This essay will explain the circumstances Oedipus lived through and all that he was responsible for being human and having human flaws. Oedipus had a pre-determined set of events working against him that ultimately lead to his destruction. Although he has the free will to make his own decisions, we see that these decisions are set within the limits fate has set for him and end up bringing the prophecy foretold to life. "Sophocles" suggests that all humans have free will, but this freewill is limited by a higher order or divine will, which controls our path in life.

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!" (Sophocles 18-19) Here, Apollo reveals Oedipus' Fate and starts him on his path in life. Little known to Oedipus, that upon hearing his future would lead him closer to his fate. Due to what Apollo told him, Oedipus had only a small part in his downfall. Oedipus tells his wife and mother what has transpired and what Apollo has told him. "I trembled at those words and fled Corinth- as far as I could- to where no star could ever guide me back, Where I could never see that infamous prophecy fulfilled". (Sophocles 19) Here we see that Oedipus who believed in prophecies as most Greeks did in Sophocles'' time, thought he could escape and alter his pre-determined life, by fleeing the city of his adoptive parents. His running turns out to be his first steps down his predestined path in life. Oedipus runs from the prophecy and kills a man "at the very spot where the great king, you say met his death". (Sophocles 19) That man turned out to be his father. Here again we see how Oedipus' choices in life did not make a difference in his future. His running from Corinth proves that his life was, pre-determined by fate and the Gods and nothing could be done to change it. His freewill and choice to avoid fate actually brought him closer to it.

Oedipus leaves Corinth in the hopes to change the future, but we see how trying to outsmart fate only leads one to it. In fact Oedipus waivers between believing what was foretold,