Tuesday, October 14, 2014

How can Oedipus be seen as a victim of fate in Oedipus Rex?

As Oedipus was unable to avoid fulfilling the terrible
prophecy laid upon him at birth, we can see him as being powerlessly subjected to his
fate. 


When we consider the great lengths that Oedipus went
to in order to escape killing his father and marrying his mother, we can clearly see
that his will was bent on mastering his destiny. He did not want to fulfill the
prophecy. He did not want to be dominated by a negative
fate. 


The evidence of Oedipus' efforts can be found in the
fact that he leaves the parents who raised him in order to save them (and to avoid
fulfilling the prophecy). He fails in this effort, offering some strong proof that he is
a "victim of fate". 


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He learns that he has killed his father, married
his mother, and had children with her; his wife-mother
Jocasta...



If Oedipus can be
seen as striving against the prophecy yet fulfilling it regardless of his most strenuous
efforts, we can argue that he is not to blame for what happens. He is a victim, like
Jocasta. 


His remorse, as well, points to his status as
victim. He was never in control of events, but was only an ignorant player in the drama
of his life. He was saved as a child only to bring shame and a curse to his
family.


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OEDIPUS: 
Let him die who took off the
fierce fetters, 
feeding off my feet, and rescued and saved 
me from
my death, no good deed for me! 
For if I had died then, 
I would not
have brought (1380) 
so much pain to my friends or
me!


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