Fate in Association With \"Oedipus

Fate in association with "Oedipus Rex"

There is much controversy regarding karma and the expression 'every action has a reaction', as while some people feel that each of the experiences that they go through reflect on their future in some way, others believe that individuals write their own future. Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex" is primarily meant to emphasize the fact that it is impossible for a person to escape his or her fate. However, this play also makes it possible for people to acknowledge that there are more types of fate. It is thus difficult to take a side in a debate involving people who believe in fate and people who believe that they are the only ones in charge of their future.

The fact that fate has a series of meanings makes it possible for people supporting this concept to be advantaged in the greater context involving the debate regarding those who believe in fate and those who do not. One of the first ideas that people need to consider when discussing fate is that all people are well-acquainted with an event that it going to happen at a certain point in their future. Everyone dies at some point and it would thus be absurd for someone to believe that he or she can have any form power over death.

Sophocles was a passionate supporter of fate and "believed that the characters' own errors were the cause for them to become victims of fate" (Saboor). His play "Oedipus Rex" lobbies concerning fate and emphasizes that one cannot escape fate. However, the play actually brings confusion and it is difficult for someone to actually understand whether Sophocles believed in fate or not. Even with the fact that everything that happens in the play is a result of Laius' sins, Oedipus seems to be provided with free will at the time when he kills his father. One can be inclined to believe that free will, rather than fate, is the reason why Oedipus is doomed to suffer.

The Greeks were particularly obsessed with the idea if fate and believed that life was generally composed out of the inevitable results of one's fate. "As Oedipus himself observes, the fates will not allow an individual to die when the individual thinks he should, but only when he is fated to" (Wetmore 116). Oedipus actually acknowledges that he is responsible for his problems at the end of the play. Even with the fact that the prophecy is real, "Oedipus alone chooses the manner in which he responds to that fate, first by fleeing it, then by seeking it out, and finally by embracing it and accepting the consequences" (Wetmore 116).

What is curious about society is that most religious ideologies promote the belief that people are in charge of their fate and that every action has a reaction. Christianity and Budhism, for example, promote the belief that individuals who take on moral attitudes are more likely to experience positive results throughout their life. In contrast, people who put across negative behavior are probable to suffer as a result of the choices they make.

Laius is responsible for his condition and there is no way for him to escape his fate, even with the fact that he does everything in his power with the purpose of fighting divinity's will. It is difficult and almost impossible to determine whether Oedipus should be accountable or not for killing Laius at the moment when he does so. One must consider that similar to how some religions promote the concept that some people are likely to be punished for the sins performed by their predecessors, Sophocles apparently wanted to put across the fact that Oedipus has no say at the time when he is fighting Laius, as he is forced to kill his father in self-defense.

The modern day society functions in accordance with the 'everything happens for a reason' system, taking into account that people are provided with benefits on account of the work that they do. However, fate is a different matter and even with the fact that there are a lot of coincidences proving otherwise, it would be difficult for someone to produce solid evidence demonstrating that fate actually exists. With the contemporary system promoting the belief that people are rewarded depending on their work and with no regard to the harm they inflict (as long as they do not do illegal acts), it is actually difficult to believe that people experience more or less fortunate episodes on account of the actions they perform.

There surely exists a divine power that controls the universe and that is responsible for virtually everything. However, it would be difficult for people to acknowledge the existence of the traditional idea of fate. Society functions on logics and the fact that many evil people throughout history have lived happy lives while many good people have suffered throughout their lives makes it difficult for someone to accept the fact that fate determines the way that each person lives.