Oedipus : Fate Vs. Free Will

Everything happens for a reason, whether it is by fate or by free will. According to Dictionary.com, "fate is something that unavoidably befalls a person; that which is inevitably predetermined; destiny". Many people, though, try to escape from their fates. In Sophocles' classic tragedy Oedipus the King, the issue of fate verses free will is important. Although Oedipus has some free will, he is a victim of fate. Fate controlled him most of his life and his free will to save Thebes, both leads him to his own self damnation.

Oedipus from birth was given a curse by Apollo that he will marry his mother (Iosate) and murder his father (Laios). Apollo's prophecy was also, predicted the same by two oracles one of Thebes and one of Corinth. This fate was inevitable from the start, and once a god predicts something, it will happen. So, it did . It was fate that although Iosate bound baby Oedipus' ankles and sent him away from Thebes to be abandon in the mountains to avoid the prophecy's truth: He was saved and raised as a prince in Corinth. However, as he grew older he hears the prophecy of the oracle of his wretched fate. He then, flees from Corinth to evade his fate; but, only to run into his fate unknowingly for filling the prophecy and returns back to Thebes. When he returns to Thebes, he saves them by solving the riddle of the Sphinx and by fate becomes King and husband of Laios' place and wife. Fate gave Oedipus his noble position and it also, made him lose everything because he was blinded by his own destruction.

Oedipus past actions were determined by fate, but what he does in Thebes, was by his own free will. Coming to Thebes his fate saved them from the Sphinx's riddling song, but could not solve the riddle of his own fatality. This was later followed by his attempt to save them by his own free will from the plague that was stowed upon them. Oedipus by free will sent Creon, brother of his wife to the Delhi to ask Apollo for guidance, and find out that the plague will be lifted only if the murderer of King Laios is prosecuted. It is coincidence or fate that the same god that cursed him is the same god he runs to for help. Oedipus compassion for his people leads him to promise them that he will find the murderer and prosecute him. Oedipus lecture to the public that he will find the man that committed this horrid act, and will perform the same act to any citizen as he would do himself or his family if found guilty. This is also a case of fate and foreshadowing that later in the play of a problem for himself to keep his promise. After hearing the information that Creon received from Apollo, a blind man of great knowledge and power to still see truth named Teiresias, tells Oedipus that the man he desires to find is himself, which causes a debate of the blind truth. But, truth became plain to see once Iosate arrived and told of Laios murder that happened where the three roads met in Phokis. That