IB English
Complete control of
one’s fate is not possible: Commentary on “Oedipus Rex”
Fate
is an obvious, thought-provoking theme in “Oedipus Rex” by Sophocles. In
general, fate is when one’s life is determined by a certain force or higher
being, or not controlled by one’s own free will. In “Oedipus Rex”, the idea of
controlling one’s fate by avoiding what an oracle has said is a significant
part of the plot.
Oedipus seeks relief from the problem of his diseased kingdom by trying to explore what was causing the problem (60 – 72), in other words trying to control the situation. He wants to find out who killed Laius and punish that person so that he would have the “worst of agonies (wearing) out his wretched life” (164 – 170, 283 – 288), which is an example for dramatic irony in the play because later it turns out that Oedipus himself killed Laius. By Teiresias, an old prophet, he was told the revelation of the problem would be better to be left unknown (380 – 382, 395 – 398) but Oedipus declares he would be “a wicked man if (he would) not act on all the god reveals” (98-99) and is determined to punish the killer of Laius, thus again acting against fate and attempting to control the situation through his free will. He does it mainly out of good intention because he wants to save his land from suffering, but thereby he basically sets out his own fatal fate, a circumstance already recognized by Teiresias (421: “For the accused polluter of this land is you”). Because Oedipus can not accept things as they were and is rather driven by pride and determination, he turns into his own worst enemy and destroys his relationships and himself. His assertion of that he would “find the man who spilled (Laius’) blood and (...) avenge (him)” (310 – 313) becomes true, and he himself becomes the man he vowed to punish.
It is then revealed that when Oedipus was born his parents have also wanted to control fate: A prophecy said that their son would kill his father, so they gave the little child away and wanted it to be killed (1402 – 1418). It is interesting to note that the oracle only told of the murder of Laius, not of the incest with Jocasta. In any way, the servant had pity and gave the child to a shepherd instead of killing it and the shepherd in turn gave it to a childless couple. It is also interesting to note that the oracle did not allow the possibility of the two parents having a son who killed the father, it said that it will definitely occur. It shows how the gods have already drawn out peoples’ lives and one’s fate is inevitable.
Very significantly, Oedipus himself received a prophecy saying that he would kill his own father and marry his mother (1182 – 1183). As a consequence he left his adoption family in Corinth to flee from his designated fate, which signifies that he had good intentions. It again becomes clear how Oedipus thinks he can change his own fate by exploring it and investigating in it. He attempts to completely avoid the prophecy but it became true anyway because Oedipus’ parents were not the ones in Corinth; his father was the old man he met on the road and struck him on his head to force him off the road (960 – 975). He then came to Thebes and was celebrated as he was successful in saving the city from the sphinx. He married the king’s widow and became the new king. Thus, the whole prophecy became true, thus displaying a self-fulfilling prophecy; Oedipus could not escape it even if he thought he did through his own choices.
In conclusion, Oedipus does not seem to believe that fate dominates his whole life, at least he tries to make choices that go against the prophesied fate. He does that out of good intention. Then however, he has to face the truth of that the prophecies of the gods are unavoidable and he can not escape his fate, and that he could not changed it even though he tried hard. The whole affair is very tragic but in the end shows how it was not his fault, but a product of forces beyond his control. Sophocles therefore suggests that while fate inevitably exists, men still make their own decisions and are responsible for them. One’s future is already determined but free will is the factor deciding how one gets there. Oedipus’ mistake was not that he had killed his father and married his mother, but that he tried to go against the fate by interfering with his attempt to avoid the oracle.
Oedipus seeks relief from the problem of his diseased kingdom by trying to explore what was causing the problem (60 – 72), in other words trying to control the situation. He wants to find out who killed Laius and punish that person so that he would have the “worst of agonies (wearing) out his wretched life” (164 – 170, 283 – 288), which is an example for dramatic irony in the play because later it turns out that Oedipus himself killed Laius. By Teiresias, an old prophet, he was told the revelation of the problem would be better to be left unknown (380 – 382, 395 – 398) but Oedipus declares he would be “a wicked man if (he would) not act on all the god reveals” (98-99) and is determined to punish the killer of Laius, thus again acting against fate and attempting to control the situation through his free will. He does it mainly out of good intention because he wants to save his land from suffering, but thereby he basically sets out his own fatal fate, a circumstance already recognized by Teiresias (421: “For the accused polluter of this land is you”). Because Oedipus can not accept things as they were and is rather driven by pride and determination, he turns into his own worst enemy and destroys his relationships and himself. His assertion of that he would “find the man who spilled (Laius’) blood and (...) avenge (him)” (310 – 313) becomes true, and he himself becomes the man he vowed to punish.
It is then revealed that when Oedipus was born his parents have also wanted to control fate: A prophecy said that their son would kill his father, so they gave the little child away and wanted it to be killed (1402 – 1418). It is interesting to note that the oracle only told of the murder of Laius, not of the incest with Jocasta. In any way, the servant had pity and gave the child to a shepherd instead of killing it and the shepherd in turn gave it to a childless couple. It is also interesting to note that the oracle did not allow the possibility of the two parents having a son who killed the father, it said that it will definitely occur. It shows how the gods have already drawn out peoples’ lives and one’s fate is inevitable.
Very significantly, Oedipus himself received a prophecy saying that he would kill his own father and marry his mother (1182 – 1183). As a consequence he left his adoption family in Corinth to flee from his designated fate, which signifies that he had good intentions. It again becomes clear how Oedipus thinks he can change his own fate by exploring it and investigating in it. He attempts to completely avoid the prophecy but it became true anyway because Oedipus’ parents were not the ones in Corinth; his father was the old man he met on the road and struck him on his head to force him off the road (960 – 975). He then came to Thebes and was celebrated as he was successful in saving the city from the sphinx. He married the king’s widow and became the new king. Thus, the whole prophecy became true, thus displaying a self-fulfilling prophecy; Oedipus could not escape it even if he thought he did through his own choices.
In conclusion, Oedipus does not seem to believe that fate dominates his whole life, at least he tries to make choices that go against the prophesied fate. He does that out of good intention. Then however, he has to face the truth of that the prophecies of the gods are unavoidable and he can not escape his fate, and that he could not changed it even though he tried hard. The whole affair is very tragic but in the end shows how it was not his fault, but a product of forces beyond his control. Sophocles therefore suggests that while fate inevitably exists, men still make their own decisions and are responsible for them. One’s future is already determined but free will is the factor deciding how one gets there. Oedipus’ mistake was not that he had killed his father and married his mother, but that he tried to go against the fate by interfering with his attempt to avoid the oracle.
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