Mr Reed
Reading/Princeton
June, 4.2013 Fate vs. Free Will Essay
There are times when things happen to people because of their fate or their choices or their fate. In the story Oedipus Rex there is a character named Oedipus whom through out the story has things happen to him. Some people say it’s because of his faith. Other people say it’s because of his actions. Most people say it’s because of his actions.
For starters, Oedipus’s problems are because of his actions. For example Oedipus thinks too highly of himself as a king, he believes everyone should listen to what he says at all times. In the story on page 61, it states “come speak plainly or it will go hard with you.” Oedipus says this to the shepherd so he could make him talk about what happened to him as child when he was left where the three roads meet.
Next, Oedipus’s other problem is that he is to aggressive and short tempered.
He reacts to people in ways he shouldn’t. In the text it states on pg. 43, “ There were three highways coming together at a place I passed and there a herald came towards me, and a chariot drawn by horses, with a man such as you describe seated in it. The groom leading the horses forced me off the road at his lord’s command; but as this charioteer lurched over towards me I struck him in my rage. The old man saw ma and brought his double goad down upon my head as I came abreast. He was paid back, and more! Swinging my club in this right hand I knocked him out of his car, and he rolled on the ground. I killed him.” This shows Oedipus is short tempered because there wasn’t a need to kill the old man. Lastly, Oedipus is mean to his wife Iocaste. He treats her like she is a nag. In the text on page 57 it states “go, one of you and bring the shepherd here let us leave this woman to brag of her royal name. When Oedipus says this he is talking about his wife Iocaste which is wrong. All in all, the things that happen to Oedipus are because of his actions not because of his fate. He responds to people not always in a respectful way. He killed some one, which you aren’t supposing to do and its wrong.
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