Oedipus the king
According to Webster's Dictionary, fate is defined as "A power that supposedly predetermines what is to happen" (257). In the play "Oedipus Rex" each character is touched by fate directly or indirectly. The author of the play Sophocles pens the story of a man who was destine from birth to be both martyr and hero, he could never be one without the other. Picture it, city of Thebes, between 430 and 425 B.C.E. The new, wise king had just lifted the Sphinx's curse. Oedipus was able to solve the Sphinx's riddle, ridding Thebes of her curse and banishing her for good. Infertile soil, burnt pastures and dead babies now currently plague the city. The people of Thebes turn to their new wise king for help so Oedipus has sent his brother in law, Creon, to seek out the gods. Throughout the course of events of this play, Oedipus goes from being wise to being paranoid. His paranoia sends him on a downward spiral and his character starts to unravel. This is due
What he did not know was that he was given to Merope and Porybus by a herdsman, and that they were not his real parents. Delphi informs Oedipus of his cursed prophecy. to a predestined fate that was already planned out for Oedipus. The first piece of evidence that his fate was already decided is that a drunken man called him a bastard. Only what he didn't know was that in running to Thebes he was running straight into his destiny. A messenger comes to Thebes to inform Oedipus of his surrogate fathers' death. The path that the gods had chosen for him still could be true. One of Oedipus's FOIL's happens to be the blind seer Tiresias. Tiresias knew that Oedipus's fate was to be ridiculed by the city and informed Oedipus of the fact prior to it actually happening. His destiny was to kill his father, Laius, and to marry his mother, Jocasta. Learning this places he previous decree that he one who murdered Laius be exiled. Hearing this sparked Oedipus's curiosity, however no one would speak to him about this incident so he went to speak with Delphi, the Oracle. Both of which came true despite any efforts of Oedipus to avoid this horrid fate. The fact that Porybus is dead by natural causes and not at the hand of Oedipus is proof to Oedipus that his morbid prophecy will not be fulfilled. The gods had decided his downfall, and no matter what Oedipus did his demise would have occurred.
Common topics in this essay:
Oedipus Rex,
Leaving Corinth,
Tiresias Creon,
Tiresias Oedipus's,
Tiresias Delphi,
Oracle Delphi,
Merope Porybus,
Webster's Dictionary,
Thebes Oedipus,
Oedipus's FOIL's,
merope porybus,
play oedipus,
wise king,
kill father,
leaving corinth,
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Acceptance Essays
