Fate vs Free Will essays

Fate vs Free Will essays Fate vs Free Will - A Close Look at Sophocles' King Oedipus (Oedipus Rex) In the play King Oedipus, Sophocles suggests that while we have free will, this translates into little control over ones lives, as fate cannot be escaped. At the end of the play, Oedipus has been totally destroyed the reversal of his humanist confidence and prosperity is complete. When considering the downfall of a central character, critics often consider the flaws of the character that contributed to the destruction. While Oedipus considers that he is acting freely, his actions are inextricably bound with fate throughout his life. Sophocles explores the inevitability of fate while highlighting that the way we come to it is an open question. Therefore, no matter what Oedipus did to try to escape his fate, he would never have succeeded. Yes Oedipus was bad tempered, proud, and arrogant, but ultimately, the decisions and actions of Oedipus are irrelevant; he is simply a victim of fate. The future is hidden even from the men who made it (Anatole France). The individual does not know his or her fate, and a dramatic destiny is predetermined for some, and so life becomes an unravelling of events until ones ultimate fate is confronted. So, despite human endeavours and despite emotions and desires, the life one is fated to live will occur. Fate can be undeserving and cruel, overwhelming and unalterable, so much that no one can change its course. Even when others strive to help, fate will have its way. Indeed, in King Oedipus, Oedipus was such an individual for although exercising free will to determine the course of his destiny, fate ultimately had its way in that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Despite Queen Jocastas individual effort to change her destiny, that she would lose her husband to murder and herself will marry her son, she was unable to do so. Even though she gives up her son to death in the vain ho...