Oedipus Rex
Would Oedipus have been better off if he was blind to the knowledge of his birthand the fate which was foretold to someday befall him? His life would have been a fareasier path had he never known about his true origins. Without the burden of thisknowledge life in Corinth would have been long and prosperous, and Thebes would havelived on under King Laius. In fact, everyone would have been better in the end if Oedipushad not ventured out beyond the walls of Corinth. If Oedipus would have accepted whohe was in Corinth and not gone in search of who he truly was, he would have been fine,but he did. He found out his fate from the seer and ran away trying to change it. Oedipuswould find that he was not able to change his fate, likely due to personal flaw. As in mostall Greek works one can not change fate but attempts to at their own sorrow. When in a bar in Corinth Oedipus encountered a drunkard tells Oedipus that heisn't really the kings son. Sophicles once said "An unexamined life is not worth living." . Meaning that without looking to see who you are you live unknowing of events to come. Up to then Oedipus had led an unexamined life, one
Shumate 3 Oedipus had many personal flaws characteristic of the people during his time thewere confident, self-assured people. When the travelers continuedby Oedipus the man inside hit him on the head and in a Shumate 2rage Oedipus kills them all except for one. By not marrying anyone he would have avoided the second half of hisfate. Oedipus characteristic flaws brought his horribledemise. Oedipus, as well as his parents,attempted to change his fate due to their overwhelming superstition and trust in seers, thushe began to suffer it. He went to Delphi andfound his horrible fate, and to change it he ran away. He met his father on his journey to another kingdom and killed him,then, as fate would have it, he eventually married his mother. In return he is appointed king because King Laiushas been reported dead by the one traveler who escaped. During these times, in Greece, people strongly believed in fate and seersinterpretations. Characteristic traits of the people during this time are what inevitably broughtOedipus his downfall. Oedipus meets up with a band of travelers who wantedOedipus to yield the road to them, but neither would move. His fate is complete because he has triedto change it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------**Bibliography**it wasn't required for us. King Laius and Queen Jocasta trusted the seer's prophecies andsent Oedipus away to be left to die, attempting to change his fate.
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