Sophocles
"It lies not in our power to love or hate, for will in us is over-ruled by fate." (Marlowe) If one believes in fate, then essentially that individual understands that often times humans mistakenly believe that they can alter or evade fate. The interplay between fate and blindness as illustrated in the two plays "Oedipus the King" and "Oedipus at Colonius" by Sophocles demonstrates the close connection between the two themes. The main character Oedipus epitomizes that human misconception; in his emotional blindness he attempts to alter his fate preordained by the gods and yet suffers as his destiny dictates. Through out the two plays fate and blindness emerge as important elements and in the end the author illustrates that the two significantly intertwine.To begin, Sophocles cleverly utilizes irony to illustrate the essential theme of fate. The main character Oedipus encounters a dilemma when he learns from the Oracle at Delphi that it was his destiny to kill his father and marry his mother. As a result, in his human nescience, Oedipus in vain devices a strategy in which to evade such an ill-fate. Consequentially, Oedipus does not acknowledge that fate exists as a force in which all the loose ends will come together in order for
Some philosophies preach that by accepting fate, one gains serenity. Then in the second play the reader sees that Oedipus possessing more sagacious qualities acknowledged that where fate's concerned "all are ignorant toward a doom too known to those who planned it. Then again the reader further understands that if everything had not come together as ordained then it would not be called fate and that "the future is in Fortunes hand. In the plays, fate acts as the master and regardless of the efforts of the characters, they unwillingly became participants in the tangled web of fate. The author shows that as outward darkness engulfed Oedipus, his insight became clearer and he successfully predicted the war that breaks out between his two sons Polyneices and Eteocles and their imminent death. 47) Ironically, the very destiny these characters planned to deceive came into existence because of their calculated actions. 42) Here Sophocles paints an excellent paradox; although physical blindness plagued Tresias, he possessed the insight and perception that Oedipus lacked. Sophocles asserts that fate would conquer regardless of the human endeavor to control destiny. In his misery, Oedipus physically blinds himself yet internally his insight awoke. 167) The first play acts as an introduction where the reader can observe a naive Oedipus attempt to mock fate. Finally, when Oedipus accepts the truth he exclaims, "I am afraid-afraid the eyeless seer has seen, (pg. Ironically, Jocasta and Laius heard the same prophesy before about their son many years prior and attempted to alter fate by abandoning baby Oedipus in a deserted field. 169)In summation, Sophocles successfully entwines the elements of fate and blindness and through the characterizing of Oedipus the reader observes that in his emotional blindness he vainly attempts to evade fate's curse. 70) Yet it took the act of digging up his sockets in order for the clearer picture to come "at last blazingly clear" (pg.
Common topics in this essay:
Jocasta Laius,
Polyneices Eteocles,
Colonius Sophocles,
Finally Oedipus,
Consequentially Oedipus,
Wicked Wicked,
,
Furthermore Sophocles,
King Thebes,
Oracle Delphi,
fate blindness,
physical blindness,
main character oedipus,
evade fate,
alter fate,
plays fate,
oedipus accepts,
insight perception,
emotional blindness,
character oedipus,
reader observes,
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Acceptance Essays
