The Role of Faith and the Gods in Oedipus Rex Essays

A common struggle man faces is the question of who or what has power and control over his life. Does he have total control of his future, or is there a higher being at work that takes human lives into their own hands? Sophocles, in his work Oedipus Rex, establishes a view that gives fate, which is created by the gods, a seemingly inescapable characteristic over man. The role of fate is clearly defined, through the fulfillment of divine prophecy, and Oedipus’ inability to recognize prophecy as a realistic source of knowledge, as a fate that strikes a delicate balance with the free will of man. The balance stricken between fate and free will, in Sophocles’ mind, is portrayed through Oedipus’ fatal flaw, which forces him to his fate,†¦show more content†¦He is a man who is compelled to know the truth. This is a characteristic that he was born with, and therefore, is an element of fate. He is unable to control his persona he was given at birth, but whil e this may be an element of fate, it directly ties to his free will. Through his inherent belief that justice must be served for his people, Oedipus makes a decision that is completely of his own free will. Oedipus’ concern for justice for King Laios, for the people of his land, and for his own personal safety, leads him to make the decision that the murderer â€Å"must be killed or exiled† (I. 94). Resulting from this decision is the balance Sophocles intends to portray between fate and free will. Fate is clearly seen through the psychological tendencies seen through Oedipus’ character (Shamir 1). The contrasting trait of free will is seen through the actions Oedipus decides to take as a result of his personality. The philosophical position Sophocles takes in Oedipus Rex is shown through the depiction of the role of fate versus the role of free will. Sophocles takes a character, Oedipus, who possesses significant arrogance as a leader, and humbles him thr ough the fulfillment of his fate. By being subjected to the fate defined by the gods, and given by the oracles, â€Å"Oedipus finds modesty because he has learned to know himself† (Kallich 1). Fate is once again attached to the idea of free will, because Oedipus experiences a dramatic shift in his personality dueShow MoreRelated Essay on Jocasta in Oedipus the King653 Words   |  3 Pages The Role of Jocasta in Oedipus the King Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. nbsp;(James 1:12) nbsp;Such is the proclamation in the Holy Bible, and so was the proclamation in ancient Greece. Since the founding of religion, the gods have sought to test those with power. Jocasta was sent by Apollo to do just that: to test Oedipus - the king of Thebes - faith and convictionRead MoreHuman Will and the Power of the Gods: Oedipus Rex by Sophocles1363 Words   |  6 Pagesaccomplished only by some. Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex is considered today as one of the greatest tragedies produced by an author during this time. Carefully crafted motifs, character-developing monologues, and poignant irony all combine to create a tragedy that leaves readers stunned and grieving for poor Oedipus. Throughout Oedipus Rex, the motif of blindness and sight emphasizes the struggle between the power of free will and the power of t he gods made evident in Oedipus’ interactions with Tiresias, Jokasta’sRead MoreThe Heroes Of The Epic Of Beowulf By William Shakespeare1292 Words   |  6 Pagesthe characteristics of what heroes are considered to be during the time they were written; however, they follow a specific formula, namely that the Gods intervene in the lives of the hero and, that the hero is burdened with a tragic flaw. In Virgil’s Aeneid, it is Aeneas’ dangerous disobedience to the ordinances of the Gods that kills him. In Oedipus Rex, it is Oedipus’s inability to control his temper which proves a mortal flaw. Yet, In Beowulf, despite Beowulf’s heroism and his preoccupation withRead More Fate Versus Free Will Essay1746 Words   |  7 Pagesthe gods† (Oxford). They often sought prophecies of the gods, especially from Apollo, the god of knowledge. The Greeks would seek prophecies usually when they had doubts about something, or if they were afraid or in de spair. When the gods made a prophecy, the Greeks put all their faith in it and believed that it would happen. When their prophecies did come true, was it really fate that controlled them? If so, was there any room for free will? Some have difficulty believing that a god, ratherRead MoreFate and Ignorance in Oedipus Rex Essay2564 Words   |  11 Pages   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Oedipus Rex is a story that can be interpreted on many different levels of thinking. The ancient tale has existed for centuries and has been subjected to countless forms of analysis. What is it that makes Oedipus the King such a fascinating story? Is it the suspense of a developing mystery that captivates the audience? Or perhaps the wonderful feeling the readers get after vicariously experiencing the horror Oedipus feels? And if not that, could it be that the reader is intrigued at SophoclesRead MoreOedipus1821 Words   |  8 Pagesrevaltion in the play that Oedipus sees V. Talk about Apollos power and the meaning of that and conclude to paper with that. The first criterion of a Greek tragedy is that the protagonist be a good person; doubly blessed with a good heart and noble intention. Sophocles reveals immediately at the start of the play that Oedipus is such a man. As is common in the Greek tragedy Oedipus is also an aristocrat. Born of the King and Queen of Thebes he is of true nobility. Oedipus on the other-hand believesRead More A Comparison of Individual Responsibility in Oedipus Rex and A Dolls House4312 Words   |  18 PagesIndividual Responsibility in Oedipus Rex and A Dolls House    In Sophocles Oedipus Rex and Ibsens A Dolls House, the main characters - Nora and Oedipus, are both constructed to illustrate flaws in society.   Oedipus psychological evolution sees him begin as an all-powerful, righteous king, who seemingly through no fault of his own murders his father and marries his mother.   His evolution ends with his self-blinding, an action which Sophocles uses to establish the true freedom of the individualRead MoreEssay Death of a Salesman, Tragic Hero. Willy Loman.1503 Words   |  7 Pageswhich is believed to be the perfect tragedy is Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. ‘Death of a Salesman’ is definitely a tragic play, but is Willy Loman, the main protagonist, a tragic hero? According to Aristotle a tragic hero must possess ‘Megalopyschia’, otherwise known as an elevated status. Willy Loman is an unsuccessful salesman of the late 1940s. He is not perceived to be ‘great’ or ‘noble’ such as other characters in traditional tragedies including Oedipus Rex, Macbeth and Hamlet all of which whom areRead MoreThroughout the history of literature, there have been many tales of tragic heroes. These heroes700 Words   |  3 PagesThroughout the history of literature, there have been many tales of tragic heroes. These heroes include Oedipus from Oedipus Rex, Cassius from The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and many others. Many may ask, â€Å"What is a tragic hero?† A tragic hero is a person of noble birth with heroic or potentially heroic qualities. This person is fated by the gods or by some supernatural force to doom and destruction or at least to great suffering. But the hero struggles greatly against this fate and this co smic conflictRead MoreThe power to change feelings Essay3615 Words   |  15 PagesSophocles’ play Oedipus Rex serves as the best example of this genre with its defining components aimed to arouse both pity and fear in the audience. According to Aristotle, â€Å". . . [P]lot is the soul of a tragedy. Such a plot must involve a protagonist who is better than ordinary people, and this virtuous person must be brought from happiness to misery† (Handbook 505). Tragedy as a genre has remained an important motif over time and can be seen specifically in three major works: Oedipus Rex, Macbeth