Oedipus Fate And Fate Essay - 777 Words

Fate as defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary is ‘an inevitable and often adverse outcome, condition, or end’. Sophocles discusses fate vs free will in his plays. In the play Oedipus Rex there was a prophecy that Oedipus was destined to kill his father and marry his mother, he attempts to escape his destiny by running away to Thebes where he meets his fate. In the play Antigone, that main character Antigone decides to go against Creon’s (her uncle who has inherited the throne) decree and bury the brother, Polynices, knowing the consequences would lead to her death. In Sophocles’ plays Oedipus Rex and Antigone, the theme is mankind not being able to escape their fate. While free choices, such as Oedipus’ decision to pursue knowledge†¦show more content†¦Oedipus’ fate could not have been changed; he was destined to have a messed up family tree. In Antigone, Antigone and her sister Ismene return to Thebes in an attempt to reconcile their brothers—Eteocles, who was defending the city and his crown, and Polyneices, who was attacking Thebes. However, both brothers were killed, and their uncle Creon became the king. He forbade burial is the corpse of Polyneices, declaring him a traitor. Antigone, moved by love for her brother and convinced that the command went against the law of the gods, she buried Polyneices secretly. Antigone lines 72-74 â€Å"And if I have to die for this pure crime,/ I am content, for I shall rest beside him;/ His love will answer mine†. It was Antigone’s fate to die after burying her brother. It also was her fate to be Oedipus’ daughter/sister. It was soon discovered what Antigone had done. Creon her to be executed and was imprisoned in a cave. Her fiancà ©, Haemon, son of Creon, begged his father to let her go. He finally agreed but he was too late, Antigone had hanged herself. Haemon was devastated that his love was dead, so he committed suicide. At the news, Creons wife and Haemon’s mother, queen Eurydice, commits suicide fulfilling Creon’s fate of being responsible for his family’s death. Antigone lines 1335-1336 â€Å"From suffering that has been/ Decreed no man will ever find escape†. In Sophocles’ plays Oedipus Rex and Antigone, the theme is mortals ot being able to escape their destiny.Show MoreRelatedOedipus Fate Essay843 Words   |  4 PagesOedipus the King is a story about a prominent king torn by fate and the effect his own actions have upon his destiny. Much can be learned from the catastrophic story of Oedipus, who was prophesied to kill his father, to marry and have children with his own mother. As soon as Oedipus learns of this prophecy, he tries desperately to escape it, by running from his hometown, and even avoiding his supposed parents. 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