fate and free will in oedipus rex/theme of the play oedipus rex

 

fate and free will in oedipus rex/theme of the play oedipus rex  

Fate and free will in Oedipus Rex

Fate is derived from the Latin word "fatum". It means "that which has been spoken". This concept is inextricably linked to ancient Greek beliefs in the gods' absolute power to dictate and steer one's existence. Fate and freewill are life's mysteries, and without them, there would be no tension or action to build up to the climax in Greek plays. 

Fatalism was a Greek belief. A man is a puppet in fate's hands, powerless to change his destiny.

As polytheists, the Greeks believed the gods were watching and reacting to their every move. Humans, according to Sophocles, have free will but are restricted by a higher power who controls their lives. Throughout the play "Oedipus Rex," he incorporates the Greek concept of fatalism, implying that attempting to avoid fate may result in calamity.

Oedipus is named for his swollen feet. In Greek it means "swollen feet." Oedipus is a tragic person whose parents were compelled to abandon him on his third day of life. Because he was predicted to murder his father and marry his mother. He's the unfortunate man who was betrayed by the shepherd who was supposed to hurl him into the Kithairon mountains. Rather than "dying that fortunate little death," he was sent to the shepherd of another monarch, Polypus. He grew up in Corinth and escaped when word of his terrible fate spread, arriving in Thebes to kill his father and marry his mother, completely oblivious to the fact that he was speeding straight into the doom he thought he was escaping. His previous actions were predetermined by fate, but his decisions to depart from Corinth, murder an elderly man, and make merry with an elderly woman were made freely. From the outset of the tragedy, Oedipus committed various actions that led to his downfall.

When Oedipus sends Creon to the temple of Apollo, the first incidence of "fate" occurs . Actually  he wants to know  about Thebes' fate. And also how they can get ride of this plague.as we find in the play.

''I have sent Creon, …… to Delphi, Appollo’s .....to learn... if he can''.

Appollo prophesied to King Laius that they would have a son who would kill King Laius.  And Appollo prophesied to Oedipus that he would murder his biological father and sleep with his biological mother.

When Creon is assigned to find the blind prophet of Appollo, Teiresias, "Fate" comes into play. Oedipus is obsessed with discovering King Laius' murderer, and he will not stop until he does.

After making discussion or arguments with Oedipus, Teiresias reveals everything to Oedipus. He  says to Oedipus:

"I tell you, no man …. rooted out more horribly than you".

Teiresias is suggesting the fact that Oedipus is unwittingly married to his mother and has children with her. 

Teiresias is warning Oedipus that he does not have everything he believes he does. Oedipus' enemies would turn against him, and he would lose everything. Oedipus commits blasphemy against God when he informs Teiresias that he has lost the gift of faith. This is blasphemy since Teiresias is the god's messenger to humanity, and Oedipus is rejecting the god's teachings by declaring him a liar.

"Oedipus will lose everything."

''Oedipus will be blind or exiled. "

In his farewell speech, Teiresias tells Oedipus that he is the one who was murdered. Teiresias. He also warns Oedipus that that he is a native Theban. Because he is the son of Jocasta.

 Oedipus will also discover that he is both brother and father to his children. And he is also the son and husband of his wife. 

An oracle had come to King Laius and told him that he would die by the hands of his son. 

Jocasta was terrified by the oracle's prediction. Jocasta sentenced Oedipus to death as a newborn. Jocasta was seeking to defy fate in this way. Jocasta believed that by killing the baby, she could change her husband's fate.

Jocasta informs Oedipus that the king had pierced the infant's ankles and sentenced him to death. And King Laius had also been murdered by a highwayman. Jocasta says that Oedipus should not be afraid of prophesy because Apollo brought none of the things to pass. My child is no longer the murderer of his father.

When the messenger informs Polybus that he has died of natural causes, fate intervenes once more. Both Oedipus and Jocasta briefly exult at this news since it indicates that oracles are false. The messenger informs Oedipus that he is not the son of Merope. Because he offered Oedipus as a gift to her and Polybus. Oedipus kills his eyes with Jocasta's broaches after he discovers he is Jocasta's son.

So, if the strong king Oedipus can become a plaything of fate, cursed by the gods and crushed by sorrow, we can conclude that no human being is immune to tragedy as long as they draw breath.