Through a lack of common sense, control andself-knowledge Oedipus fulfills his fate in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Oedipus does not think things through when confronted with upsetting possibilities. For example, he hears a rumor about his parentage, is dissatisfied with his presumed parents' response, and runs away to consult with the Delphic oracle. He is terrified by the oracle's answer and runs away to Thebes. In the process, he kills an older version of himself, leaves undone the mandatory purification procedures and marries a beautiful woman old enough to be his mother. All of the preceding incautious, uncontrolled acts are accompanied if not caused by Oedipus' ignorance of his true identity. So the question becomes whether or not knowledge makes any difference in such a life whose free will choices only serve to ensure the carrying out of a terrifyingly predetermined fate.
No, Oedipus is not fated by his destiny in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus has an unenviable fate as the prophesied killer of his father and husband of his mother. He makes efforts to avoid that fate once he is aware of it. But his efforts serve only to fulfill his fate. It turns out that all of his decisions are bad and that a better set of decisions may lead to a completely different destiny.
The shepherd in Oedipus Rex is the person who rescues Oedipus Rex as a child. The shepherd also confirms the main character's fate.
Fate and free will are the two opposing worldviews in Oedipus Rex.
Killing his father and marrying his mother is Oedipus' fate in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus hears his fate from the Delphic oracle. The oracle is respected throughout ancient Greece for her insights into divine will and fate. She says that Oedipus is fated to kill his father and marry his mother.
Yes, life is unfair to Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus gets a fate that he does not deserve. His fate is determined before he is born. Once he learns of his fate as an adult, he makes efforts to outrun it and outwit the gods.
No, Oedipus is not an innocent victim of an unjust fate in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.). Specifically, Theban King Oedipus hears that he is fated to be his father's killer and his mother's husband. The fate is unjust. But Oedipus makes panic stricken choices that make possible the very fate that he so seeks to avoid.
Fate is a possible option for the antagonist.
No, Oedipus does not deserve his fate in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, his fate is to kill his father and marry his mother. He does what he can to avoid offending mortals and blaspheming the gods. But he cannot escape the gods, who do not let up once they decide to pick on someone.
The incarnation of free will versus fate is the contrast between Oedipus and Teiresias in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus represents freely chosen actions to avoid an unenviable prophesied fate. Teiresias the blind prophet represents fate. He seeks for Oedipus' fate to be realized to the last horrific personal and professional detail. He starts the relentless process by accusing Oedipus of being King Laius' killer.
That he is helpless in the face of the destiny that he receives as a helpless baby is the reason why Oedipus calls himself a child of fate in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus is fated to grow up to be his father's killer and his mother's husband. His parents and two shepherds as well as he himself make efforts for that fate not to be realized. But fate turns Oedipus' life exactly in the direction that it needs to go for him to meet his destiny at every turn.
That he will kill his father and marry his mother is Oedipus' fate in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus' fate is revealed two times. The first time is to his parents, Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta, who hear that he will kill his father. The second time is to Oedipus, who learns his fate is to kill his father and marry his mother.
Fate; free will