The Extent to Which Oedipus Could Have Avoided His Fate

It is universally believed that every individual owns a unique fate and the only authoritative is to understand it, follow, change, avoid or follow it. Oedipus is an individual condemned by his fate despite the fact that he did all he could in avoiding the undesirable fate (Puchner 482). In fact, he ultimately kills his father and marries his own mother all in the act of avoiding the set fate without his knowledge (Bloom 21). It is apparent that Oedipus could have avoided the fate given that he held a free will which refers to the freedom to select a suitable path despite the fact that his life had been predetermined. It is arguable that Oedipus had a free drive, in regard to the decisions that he makes to chase his histories. In that, his devastation comes not from his endeavors themselves but mainly from his persisting exertions to acquire the truth, via which he uncovers the actual state of the dreadful conducts (Puchner 484). Oedipus should have avoided his fate to the utmost extent by choosing not to chase his histories to gain access to the truth.

Oedipus should have avoided his fate by making more focused and fulfilling decisions. Given that he understood that his fact dictated that he would have killed his father and ultimately marry his mother he would not have chosen to chase his past in order to acquire the truth about his parents (Bloom 21). Oedipus solely makes a justified and distinct argument as the play ends by stating that his dreadful actions were actually destined but it was his own decisions that blinded him from avoiding them (Bloom 21). In this context, he raises the argument that while at times destiny can never be escaped, the manner in which one responds to their fate is based on self-will and decisions. His determination is justified given that his man intention was to avoid the fate which in turn led him to fulfil the dreadful deeds. Oedipus ignored the fact that it was never possible to avoid destiny but changing but it is his responses that would determine whether his destiny will be fulfilled (Bloom 21). He, therefore, chose a path that led him to his destiny given that he sought to establish his past in order to alter his fate.

It cannot be denied that Oedipus is a proud individual and he is fully justified to hold the impression given that he deserved the authority.  His pride, however, became his failure similar to most leaders.  His arrogance blinded him which fueled him not to accept that he would never avoid the set destiny (Peterson’s 74). He is at first impacted by his pride after learning about what has been set for him which to him was dreadful. This created some form of fear given that he would never imagine being a murderer and a husband to his mother which forced him to flee. It is ironic that his fear and pride which pressured him to evade his destiny placed him on the track that he tried to escape. It is his pride that got him involved in a fight with his father because he believed that he was right thus causing him to be a murderer. He kept on venturing in fresh ways so as his fate would be avoided (Peterson’s 74). This, therefore, demonstrates that Oedipus was enthusiastic and held the belief that his destiny would be circumvented.

If Oedipus would have overcome his fear about the set fate he would have settled and chosen not to learn about his past. In addition, he would not have fled. If also he had rejected his arrogance and allow the carriage to follow their perceived right path the argument, fight, and murder would have been evaded (Bloom 22). Oedipus pride contributed heavily to the story since it demonstrated in several ways that he had a good chance to evade his destiny which was not pleasing. His general issue was that he had an impudent character that hindered him from letting things to flow. He was actually, very confident and was particularly determined to ensure that he eluded his destiny. His fear and arrogance demonstrate that it was his fault based on his passionate decisions that led him to his destiny which was a tragic move (Bloom 23). If owned distinct characteristics then he would have adequately avoided this fate given that his passionate and actions were mainly guided by pride and assertiveness which hindered the capability to bring changes.

Oedipus met his tragic destiny not because he engaged in any evil actions but based on the individual that he chooses to become. The play utilized pride in order to depict Oedipus as a disastrous individual given that he was bound to create misery for himself based on his pride (Bloom 23). The play demonstrates that destiny is there and every individual is part of it but what is bound to occur is mainly determined by the individual we become. In this context, after it was stated by the Oracle about the disturbing truth this was the actual things that would occur and if he was a distinct individual then the destiny would have been evaded. His statement proved that he met the sad fate based on his decisions (Peterson’s 74). In that despite the fact that it is not thinkable to avoid destiny it is rather accurate his decisions fueled him to the undesirable choice. Oedipus chose to track his past based on his determination to establish the truth. On the other hand, he fled to escape from those that he thought were his actual parents without understanding that instead of avoiding he was consistently chasing his own destiny (Peterson’s 74). A change of character would have been essential in avoiding the accomplished destiny.

In conclusion, Oedipus would have avoided the tragic fate only if he chose not to track his past based on fear of the horrific destiny, pride, and confidence. His tragic fate was mainly fueled by his fear when he chooses to flee and operated on his confidence and pride to establish the truth. It is his arrogance and confidence that forced him to fight and at the end murder his father which placed him at the situation of wedding his mother. If he had controlled his confidence and pride he would have adequately ignored the simple argument and allowed them to follow the way that they perceived to be reliable. His buoyancy and pride created egotism thus forcing him to oath his path. It is ironic that the same characteristics that secured his wealth and authority drove him to the sad destiny which would have been avoided by being a different individual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work Cited

Bloom, Harold. Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. New York: Chelsea House, 2007. Internet resource.

Peterson’s. Master the Ged 2013. , 2012. Internet resource.

Puchner, Martin. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. New York: W.W. Norton & Co, 2012. Print.