fate of oedipus
Sophocles 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 ga
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. Only Oedipus was able to solve the riddle. He uses his intelligence to defeats the Sphinx, and saves Thebes. Then he fulfills his tragic fate. He becomes the king of Thebes, and marries his mother - Jocasta. If there was no Sphinx or Oedipus failed to solve the riddle, his fate would be totally different. Even though he kills his own father, he would never become the King of Thebes and marry his own mother. But his destiny sets up all of these for him; Oedipus has no control over his destiny. But Oedipus would never be spared by his destiny; it sends another man to Thebes. He is the shepherd who gives Oedipus to King Polybus. He comes and announces Oedipus that King Polybus died, and tells him that he is not the son of Polybus. And he tells Oedipus about the shepherd who gave Oedipus to him. Oedipus calls the shepherd and interrogates him till he discovers the horrifying truth that he is the killer. " Oedipus: S
Some common words found in the essay are:
Oedipus Tyrannus, Polybus Corinth, King Polybus, Oedipus Sin, Jocasta Laius, Sphinx Oedipus, King Thebes, King Laius, P19 Oedipus, Oedipus I-, king polybus, oedipus control, king laius, control destiny, oedipus king polybus, father king, destiny oedipus, oedipus king, shepherd oedipus, tragic destiny, oedipus control destiny, real father king, oedipus tries, murderer king laius, control destiny oedipus,
Approximate Word count = 975
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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