examination of the concept of 'fate' in oedipus the king by sophocles
...e forces of fate. However, this does not seem to be the message that Sophocles is trying to get across. His implication is consistent with a second interpretation. That is to say – the fate of Thebes was to be purged of the threat, and Oedipus sending Creon to Apollo was apparent freedom of choice conforming to the design of the gods. It appears that Sophocles is attempting to suggest that fate is inescapable, that as much as free will is exercised, the forces of fate cannot be evaded. Therefore, in response to the question – To what extent does apparent freedom of choice conform to the design which has been predetermined by destiny – it would seem that the answer is - freedom of choice does not exist. Every action that is undertaken by an individual lies in the hands of fate. This theme of fate being in ultimate control underlies the whole story of Oedipus the King. Oedipus’ fate was determined for him before he was even born. He was destined to kill his father and marry his mother. This prophecy is revealed to Oedipus’ parents, Laius and Jocasta, and they attempt to throw fate off of its course by giving Oedipus away to be killed. This first attempt to escape the clutches of fate fails. Oedipus survives and grows into manhood in Corinth as the son of the king. However, in time Oedipus learns of his fate, and in an attempt to escape it, leaves Corinth. In the course of his travels, Oedipus encounters a small group of men with whom he has a dispute, and ends up killing all but one man. Unbeknownst to Oedipus, one of the men he kills is his true father, Laius. He continues on his journey and comes across Thebes, which is being guarded by a sphinx with a riddle. Oedipus solves this riddle and rids Thebes of the sphinx. As a reward, he is offered the crown of Thebes, and he marries Jocasta, the widowed queen, and his true mother. It turns out, that even in his attempt to save himself from incest and parricide, Oedipus ends up committing those very things. In thinking that he can escape his fate, he is unwittingly delivering himself right into fate’s hands. This is the answer to the questions that come about in Sophocles’ writing. You cannot escape your fate, no matter how much you exercise your free will; everything is in conjunction with a larger design. Freedom of choice is fate’s way of allowing individuals to feel that they have some control over their destinies, when in reality; they are all just pawns in fate’s game. Cultural Assumptions To make a claim such as the one above, the beliefs of the society in the text must be examined. To begin with, there obviously must be a belief in fate, as it is such a prevalent concept throughout the play. I found this concept to be a bit contradictory. Oedipus tried to outrun his fate, he was certain that he could escape it. This indicates a belief that one’s fate can be avoided. However, when he talks about the death of Laius - ‘But as it was, fate leapt upon his head’ (Cunningham & Reich, p.102) – the implication is made that fate is waiting, and one cannot avoid it. Throughout the play, however, many of the references to fate indicate a belief in fate being unavoidable, for example, Teiresias’ proclamation to Oedipus that he is to kill his father and marry his mother. The text emphasizes the Greek’s need for reason and order. According to the Classical Ideal, existence was to be ordered and controlled. Human ability could triumph over the apparent chaos of the natural world and create a balanced society (Cunningham & Reich, p.72). Oedipus, in attempting to control his fate was following the Classical Ideal by trying to exert some control over his life. He was adhering to the belief that human ability could conquer the chaos of the natural world, in this instance, chaos being his supposed fate. Self-knowledge was also another important aspect of the Classical Ideal. Oedipus’ need for self-knowledge in a way lead to his demise. After being called the ‘false son of his father’, his preoccupation with discovering the truth about who he really was directed him right into the path of his fate. Another belief of the Classical Age was that arrogance and overbearing pride would eventually lead to an individual’s downfall. Cunningham and Reich (p.78) state that ‘Oedipus’ pride and stubbornness in insisting on discovering who he is and the anger he shows in the process bring about the final disastrous revelation.’ This suggests that Oedipus’ character flaw, his arrogance, brought about his own downfall. Modern Day Interpretations The questions that have been raised in this paper are in many ways still valid today. The questions of - How far can free will be implemented in a universe which is ruled by a supreme deity or pantheon of deities - and - To what extent does apparent freedom of choice conform to the design which has been predetermined by destiny - are still asked by many individuals today. Due to the fact that these questions reflect a belief in a higher being, they ought to be responded to in a religious context. Because modern day society does not necessarily believe in a pantheon of deities, answering these questions necessitates a b...