Oedipus the King is an example of Sophocles' belief that fate controls a mans life despite his capability of free will. Tragedy can be described in many different ways.
             "A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin of suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances."
             A professor of literature stated that tragedy has nothing to do with choice. He also went on saying that, "Tragedy occurs when you cannot choose." After reading over this lecture, it was apparent to me that the lecture in part applies to the story of Oedipus Rex.
             In hopes of finding the cure for the plague that has stricken the people of Thebes, Oedipus learns that he needs to find the killer of King Laios in order for the plague to diminish. He then vows to find the killer, serve justice and stop the plague.
             "Apollo said through his prophet that I was the man who should marry his own mother. Shed his father's blood with his own hands........... (114)
             This oracle kept Oedipus out of Corinth where his parents lived. Because the Greeks believed in oracles and prophecies, this oracle was taken vary seriously. Knowing this, Oedipus Rex chose to stand clear from any situation that could justify this oracle as true.
             "Now you remember the story; Laios was killed by marauding strangers where three highways meet; but his child had not been three days in this world. Before the king had pierced the baby's ankles and left him to die on a lonely mountain side. (104)
             Laios feared that his fate would come true and that is why he chose to rid of his son. The child was found and soon adopted with no one knowing his true identity. Iokaste then told Oedipus the story of the death of her ex-husband King Laios. As the story went on, Oedipus soon realized that the story sounded too familiar.
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