Which Is More Responsible for Oedipus’ Fate, Oedipus...

When we look at situations that occur in our lives every day, we tend to think that maybe the end result was destined to happen and foreseen many years ago, perhaps even before our birth. Even so, we remain aware of the fact that â€Å"for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.† Hence, our actions can have some bearing on our lives, whether the effect is adverse or desirable. Sophocles’ Oedipus the King is a play representing a Greek belief determining the fate of men. The Greeks firmly believe that they are bound to any prophecy made by the gods. With this in mind, one would initially agree that â€Å"moira† is solely responsible for determining Oedipus’ fate. However, after a thorough analysis of Oedipus’ character we see how his†¦show more content†¦The events in Oedipus the King display an underlying relationship of man s free will existing within the fate which the Greeks believed guided the universe in a congruent purpo se. Man is free to choose his own path and is ultimately held accountable for his own actions. Both the concept of fate and free will played a vital part in Oedipus destruction. Although he was a victim of fate, he was not controlled by it. Oedipus was destined from birth to someday marry his mother and to murder his father. This prophecy, as warned by the oracle would inevitably come to pass, no matter what he may have done to avoid it. His past actions were determined by fate, but what he did in Thebes; he did so of his own will. Towards the end of the play, when he is brought the news of his parentage by the messenger, Oedipus experiences peripeteia, â€Å"a reversal of circumstances†. This includes not only changes to his character, but also more external changes; he becomes privy to information he was previously ignorant of. When we reflect on our lives thus far, the past and present, we realize the impact and influence our actions have towards our future. Sometimes a sudden reversal of circumstances caused by a previous action has an opposite effect from the doer has intended. To illustrate, the wrongs Oedipus committed in his former life turned out to be the actions that shaped his future. Although he tries to avoid the