Oedipus the Mysteries of Fate - 869 Words

Oedipus: The Mysteries of Fate Robert Choi Among the first thing a historian discovers in his study of early civilization are records of peoples belief, or faith, in powers greater than themselves, and their desire to understand what causes these powers to act. People everywhere wonder about the marvelous things in the sky and on the earth. What makes the rain? How do the plants and animals live and grow and die? Why are some people lucky and others unlucky? Some believe in free will while others believe in fate or destiny. In the play Oedipus the King by Sophocles, Oedipus was a true victim of fate. Gods and goddesses were believed to be responsible for the wonders of science, and the vagaries of human nature; therefore,†¦show more content†¦Even after abandoning the baby and believing that he was dead, the prophecy was destined and somehow came true. With me getting caught for shoplifting was also destined. The voices I heard in my head was a warning, and I chose to ignore it but it was destined to happen. The day our lives end, we dont choose where we will go, we, I believe, are destined to be sent where we belong. In the play Oedipus the King by Sophocles, Oedipus was a true victim of fate. Like Oedipus, there was a time in my life when I too, felt like a victim of fate. The Greeks had an orderly explanation of the creation of the world. From this Greek tragedy, I learned more about their manners, customs and ideals. Ive grown to appreciate their love of beauty, their joy and laughter, as well as the sorrows they experienced in life. I also realized how great of power destiny and fate have over free will. The moral of this play I learned is that if its destined, it will sooner or laterShow MoreRelatedThe Tragic Flaw Of Oedipus The King1310 Words   |  6 Pages The Unfortunate Fate of a Tragic Flaw An individual’s strengths can eventually become their greatest weaknesses. A tragic flaw is a trait viewed as being favorable to a character at first, but it leads to their later downfall. It was often used in ancient Greek tragedies to show that mankind was susceptible to flaw. This was present in Sophocles s tragedy, Oedipus the King. The protagonist of the tragedy,Oedipus, was not exempt from his own flaws. Oedipus’s traits of excessive pride and desireRead MoreThe Tragic Flaws Of Oedipus The King1352 Words   |  6 PagesSophocles s tragedy, Oedipus the King. The protagonist of the tragedy, Oedipus, was not exempt from his own flaws. Oedipus’s traits of excessive pride and desire for knowing the truth were advantageous to him in the beginning, yet were the very things that contributed to his tragic downfall. Oedipus possesses an excessive amount of pride, or known to Greeks as hubris. This was necessary for upholding the position of a king, but causes him to believe that he could alter his fate. Initially, pride wasRead More Boundaries of Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King1282 Words   |  6 PagesBoundaries of Fate and Free Will in Oedipus the King    The ancient Greeks firmly believed that the universe was guided strictly by order and fate. In Oedipus the King, Sophocles has examined the relationship between free will and fate, suggesting that free will paradoxically exists inside the boundaries of fate. It may be concluded, however, that man has free will and is ultimately held responsible for his own actions.    Oedipus destruction was brought about by a combination of fate and freeRead MoreOedipus Rex Literary Synthesis1483 Words   |  6 Pages2012 The Tragic Destiny of Oedipus Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex is one of the most well- known tragic plays in existence. Oedipus, the King of Thebes, is the victim of a curse in which he must suffer the tragedy of his own unchangeable fate. The tragic heroism of Oedipus befalls him because of his heroic qualities and his loyalty to his Thebans and to himself. His unchangeable destiny affects so many others throughout the play. These others’ subsequent suffering that Oedipus brings upon them helps contributeRead MoreOedipus The King : The Presence Of Gods1509 Words   |  7 PagesThe presence of gods in Oedipus the King, although it is not explicit nor do they appear physically present, is distinct and unmistakable. The figure of Apollo and his Oracle declares itself as a prominent being to Grecian society, the place where both Oedipus’ biological parents went to uncover the future of their son before his birth and where Creon is sent to uncover the reason behind the plague of Thebes. The role of G od in this play reveals the truth of the future, binding the three elementsRead MoreOedipus The King By Sophocles1598 Words   |  7 PagesThe events in Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, suggesting a connection between man s free will towards perfection in life or fate which the ancient Greeks believed that Gods had given to them. Man was free to choose and was ultimately held responsible for his own actions. Both the concepts of fate and free will are a poignant factor and they play an indispensable role in the Oedipus destruction. Oedipus was a victim of fate when he was predicted from birth to someday marry his mother andRead MoreOedipus Fate from the Gods and His Choices Essay654 Words   |  3 Pagesthink they can determine their own destiny, but, as the Greeks believe, people cannot change fate the gods set. Though people cannot change their fate, they can take responsibility for what fate has brought them. In the story Oedipus, by Sophocles, a young king named Oedip us discovers his dreadful fate. With this fate, he must take responsibility and accept the harsh realities of what’s to come. Oedipus is a very hubris character with good intentions, but because he is too confident, he suffersRead MoreDramatic Tragedies: Oedipus Rex and Hamlet Essay714 Words   |  3 Pagescreated plays similar in nature such as; â€Å"Oedipus Rex† and â€Å"Hamlet†. Both plays were consistent of dramatic tragedy. Sophocles wrote about the typical Greek tragedy that consisted of an ill-fated doom for Oedipus. Shakespeare wrote about Kingdom of Denmark where all things fell apart and death was imminent. Each story consisted of a queen that was important to the outcome of each play. Gertrude was the queen in â€Å"Hamlet†, and Jocasta was the queen in â€Å"Oedipus Rex†. Gertrude and Jocasta were both widowsRead More Oedipus the King - The Character Transformations of Oedipus Essay1250 Words   |  5 PagesOedipus the King - The C haracter Transformations of Oedipus Through the character of Oedipus, Sophocles shows the consequences of defying the divine order. Oedipus served Thebes as a great ruler, loved by his subjects; but, like most in the human race, he slipped through the cracks of perfection. Oedipus had many faults, but it was primarily the tragic flaw of hubris, arrogance from excessive pride, which doomed his existence, regardless of the character attributes that made him suchRead MoreOedipus The King Essay1360 Words   |  6 Pagesby the emotional discharging brought about by the suffering of a heroic figure. In Oedipus The King, by Sophocles, the agony of pain attacking the protagonist is a result of his tragic flaw. Sophocles often uses a characters hamartia to alter or influence the future or outcome of the hero, in this case, Oedipus. Oedipus hubris traps him into fulfilling the vision and intensifies his punishment. Oedipus pride is an inherited characteristic. Even before his glory and power as King of Thebes