Fate Overpowers Free Will (Oedipus The King) Essay, Research Paper

Concerning the question of fate vs. free will, Sophocles felt that a person has no control over the course of his life. In the play Oedipus the King, Oedipus is a great example of Sophocles’ belief that fate will control a man’s life no matter how much free will exists in the man’s heart. King Oedipus was praised by all of his people, who felt that the almighty king could save them from disaster. King Oedipus strove to be a good king and a good man, although he became very conceited. What Oedipus doesn’t know is that his life course has been set ever since he was born. Oracles predicted that Oedipus would, one day, murder his father and wed his mother. Because Sophocles created, in his plays, oracles that were very accurate, fate definitely overpowers free will. Throughout the play it is gradually revealed that the oracles were right and that Oedipus did, indeed, kill his father and wed his mother. Oedipus, unknowingly, killed his father when he ordered his men to kill the man who would not step aside the path of a carriage which transported an “almighty” king. This incident was all a matter of fate. Now, since the murder has already been committed, Oedipus can not control the course of his life. At this point, Sophocles expresses his opinion about fate vs. free will. No matter how much free will Oedipus had in controlling his life, fate had already taken control.