Oedipus The King Research Paper

In Ancient Greece, fates and prophecies were part of everyday life, and it was used abundantly in Ancient Greek stories. In Oedipus The King, written by Sophocles, Oedipus fled Corinth after finding out about his prophecy, and how he would kill his father and share a bed with his mother, who he thought was Polybus and Merope respectfully. He saved Thebes from the Sphinx and became the king of Thebes. There is much debate whether Oedipus was doomed from the beginning or he made his own fate. Oedipus had no control of his fate because of him not knowing the truth of his birth, due to King Laios, Jocasta, and the shepherd's decisions.
King Laios and Jocasta, knowing that Oedipus would have done something bad, should’ve either killed him themselves …show more content…
Because of what Laios and Jocasta did, he lived not knowing that they were his parents, and Laios and Jocasta, thinking that he was dead, didn’t know that he was their son.
Furthermore, the blame can also go on the shepherd because he didn’t do what he was commanded to do by his king. The shepherd should’ve killed the young Oedipus, but the reason he didn’t is pretty self-explanatory. It was a helpless baby. He still should’ve followed orders, or told them that he couldn’t do that to a baby. Jocasta and Laios should’ve told the shepherd why he was being killed or what dangers could come from the baby. There were many holes in their plan which resulted in …show more content…
He killed the men at the crossroads was for self-defense.
The guide there tried to force me off the road and the old man, too, got personally involved.
In my rage, I lashed out at the driver, who was shoving me aside. The old man, seeing me walking past him in the carriage, kept his eye on me, and with his double whip struck me on my head, right here on top.(Johnston 967-975)
He killed those men because he thought he was in danger. He didn’t know any better. At that point in his life, it was either him or them and he chose himself over people that might kill him. Oedipus is a victim of his fate because he didn’t know the truth of his birth due to what King Laios, Jocasta, and the shepherd did. Sometimes people don’t have control of their life. They can try to avoid things that just end up happening anyway. Fate is what the person makes of it. If they want something to happen, it is in their power to make it happen. They just have to

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