Knowing the future can destroy a character’s life. In Oedipus Rex and Antigone by Sophocles, Laios, Oedipus, and Creon try to break free from their known destinies because they are too proud, and this leads to their overall downfall. In both plays, the characters hear prophecies that they instantly deny. By trying to alter the inevitable, they cause more suffering for themselves and the people around them.
In Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Iocaste, Oedipus’ wife, describes how Laios received a prediction that his son would grow up to kill him. To save his own life, the king “…had pierced the baby’s ankles and left him to die on a lonely mountainside” (Sophocles). The baby, Oedipus, survived because the sheppard who he was given to spared his life. The king tries to save his own life by going against the fate that was determined by the gods. Laios behaves differently after knowing the prophecy. He changes from reasonable to willing to murder his only child in seconds.
Another prophecy explains that Oedipus…show more content… When Creon, the new king, orders for Polyneices to be left out in the field to rot, Antigone instantly plots to defy her fiancé’s father. The king puts Antigone in a tomb with food; she is expected to die of natural causes. Teresias enters and predicts that the gods will punish Creon unless he fixes his mistakes. Teresias explains, “And your house will be full of men and women weeping” (Sophocles). At first, Creon accuses the prophet of being bribed to tell him false statements. The prophecy makes Creon lash out against others because he does not want to accept it. He realizes his fate too late and it leads Antigone, Haimon, and Eurydice to commit suicide. The prophecy ended up killing them because they wanted to escape their fates. The opportunity that appeared because Creon learned his fate caused him to lead three people to kill
