Is man free to mold his own destiny, or is he a mere thread on the spool of life the Fates, the three female deities of Greek Mythology, cut and control? Can, in fact, man determine his life and destiny based on his own free will through successful initiation or is he subject to the web of fate that is woven for him? The force, which controls the path of man, whether from fate or through successful transcending initiation, has been a long survived question that yet remains unanswered, but nevertheless, consists of many explanations. Through comprehensive analyses of the tragedies of ancient Greece of Oedipus the King, Antigone, and Medea, the protagonist consistently fails initiation and, as a result, forces fate to take control.

Plato and Aristotle ultimately believed that a positive world could not all be completely ruled by fate, and, in turn, both philosophers argued progressive life for individuals has to be undertaken through initiatory experiences. Therefore, in such transcending realm, man could not be held responsible for his actions mainly because not all men can achieve successful libations and transformations and thus initiat

An additional tragedy written by Sophocles, Antigone, expresses the similar idea to the thesis that failed initiation through character flaws brings forth once fate. In general, Creon, Antigone's uncle, rebels against the gods and refuses to bury Polyneices because of his excessive pride, or hubris. He wants to support those who defend Thebes and, in return, disregard those who are against his city. However, this unwillingness to bury Polyneices obeys Creon's law rather than the law of the gods, a fatal and destructive error on Creon's behalf. Demonstrating the flaws of excessive pride and ignorance, Creon fails his initiation and his unfortunate fate sets in. As Tiresias, the blind prophet, tells Creon of the great error he has made, it becomes evident once again that the horrendous effects of failed initiation whether through excessive ego or pride, leads to unfortunate fate and thus the self-destruction of the protagonist. Creon, like Oedipus, is unable to learn from the words spoken of the prophet, due to his pride and overbearing ego, which in turn, results in the death of Creon's son as Tiresias had stated from before, "A corpse for a corpse the price, and flesh for flesh- one of your own begotten." Even though Creon later sees enlightenment, a bleak sign of liberation, it is already too late. Only his exile, a symbolism of destruction and failure, remains simply because of his failed initiation.

ion. The predominant idea of infallibility of fate, but rather praise of the success of plain initiation was supported by their fellow contemporary Greek philosophers and can be reversibly seen in the tragedies of ancient Greece such as Oedipus the King, Antigone, and Medea. In sum, the three unique plays

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Approximate Word count = 1158
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)