Oedipus The King Fate Vs Free Will Essay
“Everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no control. It is determined for the insect, as well as for the star. Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible piper.” * Albert Einstein
Themes from 4000 years ago still ring true. Albert Einstein clearly expresses that the themes of fate versus free will that underlie Oedipus Rex are still relevant today. Fate is and always will be a mysterious thing. There is no way to control it, or change it. Regardless of decisions taken, you will always end up exactly where you are meant to. What happened to Oedipus was not a logical consequence of his poor decisions; instead, it was all due to his cultural fate, his parents decisions and his ignorance.
The story of Oedipus began long before the actual plot of the novel began. The series of unfortunate events that led to his downfall were due to actions taken by his parents. When his …show more content…
That way he would have known who to stay away from. If he had known of his true parentage, he would not have felt the need to go to Delphi and figure out who he is. After his endeavour in Delphi, he would not have run into Laius on the road. The interaction with Laius at the crossroads would not even have taken place, and if it had, it would likely have been amiable. Oedipus would have known that he was a mere prince while Laius was king and would step out of the way. However, he did not know his true parents and thought that he was of higher status and therefore had the right to pass before Laius. After he killed Laius, he got by the Sphinx and gained the crown of Thebes and the hand of Iocasta. The most ironic part was that the land he gained through marriage was supposed to be his from birth. The prophecy had in fact come true, only no one knew
Themes from 4000 years ago still ring true. Albert Einstein clearly expresses that the themes of fate versus free will that underlie Oedipus Rex are still relevant today. Fate is and always will be a mysterious thing. There is no way to control it, or change it. Regardless of decisions taken, you will always end up exactly where you are meant to. What happened to Oedipus was not a logical consequence of his poor decisions; instead, it was all due to his cultural fate, his parents decisions and his ignorance.
The story of Oedipus began long before the actual plot of the novel began. The series of unfortunate events that led to his downfall were due to actions taken by his parents. When his …show more content…
That way he would have known who to stay away from. If he had known of his true parentage, he would not have felt the need to go to Delphi and figure out who he is. After his endeavour in Delphi, he would not have run into Laius on the road. The interaction with Laius at the crossroads would not even have taken place, and if it had, it would likely have been amiable. Oedipus would have known that he was a mere prince while Laius was king and would step out of the way. However, he did not know his true parents and thought that he was of higher status and therefore had the right to pass before Laius. After he killed Laius, he got by the Sphinx and gained the crown of Thebes and the hand of Iocasta. The most ironic part was that the land he gained through marriage was supposed to be his from birth. The prophecy had in fact come true, only no one knew