How are the constructs of destiny and freewill explored in Oedipus?
Fate and free will both play an built-in function in Oedipus ‘ life. In Oedipus, Sophocles points out the old Grecian belief that destiny can non be escaped even though a adult male has freewill and pick. Despites a adult male free will it is fate that will finally predominate. But was Oedipus a victim of an inevitable destiny or did he make his ain fate through his free will?
Oedipus merely like Laius and Jocasta attempts to get away his destiny by moving on his freewill. Laius had tried to get away his destiny by seeking to kill the kid who was meant to kill him, but does non win. Oedipus excessively tries to get away his destiny by running off from Corinth after he was told of the prophet that said he is to “ copulate ” his ain female parent and “ slaying ” the male parent who gave him life. Afraid and of class believing the prophet he runs off in order to get away it. But by making so, he is incognizant that he has really taken a measure closer to his ain devastation. This is proved when on his manner to his new life, he unwittingly kills his ain male parent Laius and fulfills a portion of the prophet. He so goes on and takes over Thebes and marries his ain female parent and hence fulfills the first prophet. However, Laius and Jocasta had a opportunity which Oedipus did n’t. They were given a warning stating that they should non bring forth a kid. But Laius was overcome by a fleeting lecherousness ( Oedipus Tyrannus notes- Pg 90 ) and therefore left his boy to confront the effect of his action.
Jocasta and Laius can besides be seen as a perfect grounds of freewill. It was their pick of action that led to their fate. Their destiny was ne’er certain. They were given a warning but ignored it and went against God ‘s will. Their pick of action shows that it was freewill that created their fate. However, we can besides state it was their destiny because the warning itself had mentioned their destiny. Furthermore, they get their penalty for traveling against God ; Laius is killed by his ain boy and Jocasta marries non merely her ain boy but besides the liquidator of her hubby. The drama shows that the Gods are in control, and non work forces ( www.slashdoc.com ) . Furthermore, the drama can besides be looked at as the destiny of Laius and Jocasta since they were the 1 who ignored the prophet and made a error. Oedipus merely seems like person steering them to their destiny. Their ill-fate was the penalty for avoiding the warning and moving on their freewill. So, hence, we can besides state that Oedipus was merely a victim of his parents expletive, “ the expletive of your female parent and male parent, a dual blow ” ( pg 33 Line -417 ) .
At the beginning of the drama, when there is a pestilence in Thebes, we are told about the new prophet from Creon. He coveys the prophet that in order to acquire rid of the pestilence, the liquidator of Laius must be found. Here we can state that it is his freewill that ‘s making his fate because Oedipus could hold waited for the pestilence to stop and non direct Creon to seek aid from Apollo, but he does. This shows him moving with freewill and shows that adult male is dependable of his ain actions. However, on the other manus, we can besides state it is fate because it was meant to go on. There were two things he could hold done ; one was to wait for the pestilence to stop and the other to direct Creon to seek aid from Apollo. But he goes for the 1 that leads him to his devastation. So we can state that it ‘s destiny and is taking him towards his ruin. He does precisely what a good male monarch should hold done but does n’t recognize that he is forcing himself closer to his ruin. Besides, after he learns of the prophet, he could hold searched for the liquidator easy and softly but he curses the liquidator which in actuality is him cussing himself, “ I besides pray that this unknown actor of this title, whether he acted entirely or with confederates, may have on out his deplorable life in abstract wretchedness ” ( pg 23 Lines 246-278 ) . This symbolizes that freewill is merely a route to one ‘s destiny.
The “ agon ” between Oedipus and Tiresias brings out a batch of Oedipus ‘s defects. His harmatia include haughtiness, force, pride and his pursuit for truth. In this scene Tiresias continuously warns Oedipus non to inquire more, but Oedipus does. The scene creates a batch of tenseness and Tiresias foretells a batch “ Now you see clearly but so you will see darkness ” ( Pg 33 line -419 ) . But Oedipus does non pay any attentiveness to this and mocks Tiresias sightlessness. We can besides state that Oedipus ‘s harmatia led and contributed vastly to his ruin. Even after hearing a batch, he is still nescient and is committed in happening the liquidator. Here excessively he could hold stopped his question and saved himself but he does n’t and believe he is making the right thing but has no thought of what delaies for him. Consequently, he continues forcing himself frontward.
Jocasta tries to quiet Oedipus down by stating him that “ no 1 who is person has the power of prognostication ” ( pg53 lines-788-789 ) . She besides provides an grounds for this by stating him of the old prophet and adds that Laius was non killed by his ain boy but by robbers and as for the kid they had thrown him off with his mortise joints pinned together. And for the first clip realisation hits Oedipus, and he cries, “ Oh. What a deplorable I am! It seems I have exposed myself to a awful expletive, without cognizing it. “ ( pg 55 lines 744-745 ) . But Jocasta assures him that Laius was killed by robbers and non a individual adult male. Even after cognizing so much Oedipus is still relentless in happening the whole truth. He now waits for the shepherd who had witnessed Laius slaying and calls him he ‘s merely “ evidences for hope ” ( pg 61 lines836 ) . But in world the shepherd is the 1 who opens the gate to his ill-fate. The chorus so, in the 2nd STASIMON reminds us that the Torahs of the land is in the God ‘s manus and non work forces “ The Torahs prescribed for these are empyreal, and were given their birth in the clear air of Eden, Olympus ” ( pg 65 lines 865-867 ) .
While they are waiting for the retainer, a courier comes by and informs that Polybus is dead and later adds that Polybus was non Oedipus ‘s male parent “ Polybus was no relation of your ” ( pg 75 line-1016 ) . Just so Jocasta realizes that the prophet has come true, and begs Oedipus to halt his quest. But as ever Oedipus does n’t listen and misunderstands Jocasta. Jocasta leaves naming him an “ unhappy adult male ” . The herder so comes into the scene and at first garbages to state the truth. Like Tiresias and Jocasta, he excessively warns him to halt but Oedipus does n’t. The herder so confirms Oedipus ‘s individuality ( that he is Laius ‘ boy ) and therefore interrupt the shield that had been at that place till now that had kept Oedipus off from his ailment destiny. Having realized what he has done, Oedipus cries “ Oh, oh! The whole truth has come out. Light may this be the last clip I look at you ” ( pg 8 lines 1182- 1123 ) . The chorus so reflects on the illusional qualities of adult male ‘s felicity and the futility of mortal life. Even person who appeared so preeminently successful as Oedipus has shown this by falling victim to awful agony. ( pg 86 notes ) . We are so told about Jocasta ‘s decease. Jocasta self-destruction is strictly freewill since her destiny was ne’er to decease but to get married her boy. So her determination to decease was non her destiny but her pick ; her freewill.
At the terminal of the drama, Oedipus blinds himself and when the chorus asks him what had made him make so, he replies, “ Apollo, it was Apollo, my friends ” ( pg 97 lines 1328 ) . “ But the manus that struck them was mine ” ( pg 97 line-1331 ) . He now understands his destiny and takes duty for his actions and is guilty for killing his male parent and get marrieding his female parent.
Even though we know that Oedipus killed his male parent and married his female parent, we as an audience feel commiseration for him because he did n’t make anything intentionally. The characters in the drama were non to the full responsible for their actions. In the drama, destiny and freewill both worked together towards Oedipus devastation. Every action he took, lead him to closer to his devastation. Thus we can reason that freewill is merely a route that leads to one ‘s finish. In the terminal all the prophets are proved right and it is proved that destiny is inevitable and worlds are controlled by God and despites a adult male ‘s freewill, it is fate that prevails.