University:
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Course:
ENGL 300 | English Language Literature
Academic year:

2024
Views:

123

Pages:

1
Author:

Clara Roberts

Name: ________________________________ Period: ____ Oedipus the King: Theme of Fate and Free Will A central theme of the Oedipus the King is the tension between individual action and fate. While free choices, such as Oedipus’s decision to pursue knowledge of his identity, are significant, fate is responsible for Oedipus’s incest and many of the other most critical and devastating events of the play. By elevating the importance of fate, Sophocles suggests that characters cannot be fully responsible for their actions. It becomes difficult, for example, to blame Oedipus for marrying mother given his ignorance. Questions About Fate and Free Will 1. Do some characters seem to control their fates more than others? If so, how do they do it? Yes, some characters in various narratives seem to exert more control over their fates than others. This control often comes through their actions, decisions, and their ability to adapt to circumstances. Characters who are proactive, strategic, and morally upright often navigate their fates more effectively. For instance, characters like Odysseus in "The Odyssey" or Hamlet in Shakespeare's play seem to have some degree of control over their destinies through their choices and actions. 2. Discuss Oedipus’s understanding of his own destiny. How does this change throughout the course of this play? Oedipus's understanding of his own destiny evolves significantly throughout the play "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles. Initially, he is confident in his ability to solve the riddle of the Sphinx and believes he can control his fate through intelligence and determination. However, as the truth about his past unfolds, Oedipus realizes that he is powerless to change the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. This realization leads to his tragic downfall as he struggles to accept the inevitability of his fate. 3. How does Oedipus’s fate impact the fates of other members of his family? Oedipus's fate has a profound impact on the fates of other members of his family, particularly his parents (King Laius and Queen Jocasta) and his children. His unwitting fulfillment of the prophecy leads to the tragic deaths of his parents—King Laius at the hands of Oedipus himself and Queen Jocasta by her own hand upon learning the truth. Additionally, Oedipus's children, born from his incestuous union with Jocasta, are left orphaned and cursed by their father's actions. 4. Do you think Oedipus would have fulfilled the prophecy of killing his father and sleeping with his mother if his parents hadn't tried to kill him as an infant? It's a matter of speculation whether Oedipus would have fulfilled the prophecy if his parents hadn't attempted to kill him as an infant. The prophecy itself, as well as the attempts to avoid it, create a tragic irony that drives the narrative. However, it's possible that without the initial attempt on his life, Oedipus may not have been spurred to leave his home and eventually encounter the events that lead to the fulfillment of the prophecy. Ultimately, the play underscores the idea of fate as an inexorable force that cannot be escaped, regardless of the actions taken to prevent it.