In the Oedipus Plays of Sochocles, Oedipus is a victim of destiny by the gods. In Ancient Greece, there was a lot that was not understood, so they used gods to explain why things happened. In Greek and Roman mythology fate is depicted by three goddesses, the Destinies, who determine the course of human life. These gods were able to control man’s behavior, which was shown very well in Oedipus the King. Fate played a huge part during this time. It showed the Greek’s idea that no matter how hard someone struggles to change their destiny it has already been predetermined.
Destined to kill his father and marry his mother, Oedipus was guided by fate. As a baby, his parents learned of his destiny and gave him to a shepherd to be killed. Since he had to carry out this destiny, however, Oedipus survived and was adopted by the king and queen of Corinth, Thebes’s neighboring city. Unaware those were not his real parents, Oedipus learned of his destiny and thought he could change it by running away from Corinth. Unfortunately, his prophecy, as warned by the Oracle at Delphi, was absolute and would inevitably come true.
On his was to Thebes, Oedipus, began fulfilling his destiny. He gets in a fight with some men in a carriage and in self-defense kills all except one. One of the dead men was Laius, king of Thebes and Oedipus’ father. The only survivor was the shepherd, who 20 years before was the one who was supposed to have killed Oedipus. “Shepherd- Then… from Laius’ house… that’s where it’s from. They say it was… actually his own. But the queen inside could probably explain.”
“Oedipus- She, she gave it to you?”
“Shepherd- Just that, my lord.”
“Oedipus- With what intention?”
“Shepherd- To do away with it.”
“Oedipus- The child’s own mother?”
“Shepherd- To escape a prophecy too horrible.”
Meanwhile, the city of Thebes was beginning to fall apart. A sphinx had come into town, and everyone coming in had to answer her riddle. If they didn’t answer it, she would eat them. Destined to solve the ancient riddle and free Thebes, Oedipus became a hero. The citizens made him king and he marries Jocasta, the widowed queen and Oedipus’ mother. Here he unknowingly fulfilled another part of his destiny.
Twenty years pass as Oedipus and Jocasta rule Thebes. The gods were disgusted that Oedipus, having killed his natural father, was not exiled or killed due to bloodguilt, and strike a plague on the city. The citizens go straight to their king thinking he will save them as he did before. Oedipus says he will work day and night until he finds the man who killed the former king Laius and seek revenge upon him. “Oedipus- For who knows, tomorrow this selfsame murderer may turn his bloody hands on me. The cause of Laius therefore is my own… I am resolute, and shall not stop till with Apollo’s help all-blessed we emerge, or else we are lost-beyond all purge.” After much talking with the messenger and shepherd, Jocasta and Oedipus both realize the truth... they weren’t able to escape their fate. “Oedipus- Lost! Ah lost! At last it’s blazing clear. Light of my days, go dark. I want to gaze no more. My birth all sprung revealed from those it never should, Myself entwined with those I never could. And I the killer of those I never would.” Jocasta realizes everything she has done, and so she hangs herself. Oedipus was so disgusted with everything that he takes pins and pokes out his eyes so that he is blind. When he goes to Hades he doesn’t want to be able to see his mother and woman he married, or all the deformed children they had together.
Oedipus’ downfall was primarily the result of king Laius’ and his own actions and attempts to defy the gods. After all everyone went through to try and change the fate of Oedipus told by the Oracle, everything still played out as it was supposed too. The Greeks believed strongly in their gods and that nothing could be done to change what was already destined to happen. This idea of fate has existed for a long time and still exists even today in our minds and lives.
