Call/WhatsApp/Text: +44 20 3289 5183

Question: Did Oedipus deserve his fate? Why or why not? Be sure to consider the entire play.

16 Oct 2022,10:28 PM

 

Oedipus’ Fate

Many ancient works of literature involve the relationship between humans and the divine. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, we saw the interaction of Gilgamesh and Enkidu with gods like Ishtar. In Oedipus Rex, however, we don’t directly see Oedipus interacting with the gods, yet it is clear that the gods are involved. One aspect of humanity that the gods have some control over is fate. For this essay, we’ll take a look at Oedipus’ fate.

The Oedipus story involves two principles we can discuss. The first comes from the Greek term hamartia, which roughly means “moral flaw.” Sometimes it is translated as “tragic flaw.” Under this concept Oedipus we have to determine whether or not Oedipus actually deserved his fate. The second concept is that of “double determination.” This concept is the idea that both free will and fate exist. In other words, while Oedipus may have been fated to reach a certain point, he could still make his own decisions along the way.

 

In this essay you’ll be responding to two questions:

  1. Did Oedipus deserve his fate? Why or why not? Be sure to consider the entire play.
  2. Regardless of your response to Question 1, could Oedipus have avoided his fate through the exercise of free will? Why or why not? Again, consider the entire play.

 

Expert answer

 

Oedipus Rex is a play about a man who unwittingly kills his father and marries his mother. Oedipus was not aware of his true identity until the end of the play. He had been told by the Oracle of Delphi that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus tried to avoid this fate by leaving his home, but he unknowingly went in the same direction as his parents. Oedipus’ fate was ultimately unavoidable.

 

Did Oedipus deserve his fate? I don’t think so. Oedipus was not aware of who he was when he killed his father and married his mother. If he had been aware of his true identity, then maybe he could have avoided these tragic events. However, it was clear that the gods were involved in his fate and there was nothing he could do to change it.

Stuck Looking For A Model Original Answer To This Or Any Other
Question?


Related Questions

What Clients Say About Us

WhatsApp us