Oedipus: Fate Is Unavoidable :: Oedipus Rex, Sophocles

Oedipus slew is Unavoidable     No matter what anyone tries, no matter what anyone does, no matter whatanyone believes they have accomplished, they have not controlled fate. Fate isuncontrollable. Much like betting on a sure involvement and inhabiting in the adventure ofyour mind that at that place are innumerous factors in the outcome--anything could happen.Its unfortunate that the people of Ancient Greece sanctioned the excogitation offate. In the Era of Enlightenment the idea of God-controlled fate was finallychallenged with the touch sensation of self-fulfilled destiny until then, men turned toprophets and oracles. In the play Oedipus, by Sophocles, there was a ongoingsynergy between fate and knowledge that was always rejected. Oedipus, themain character, struggled to dominate his own destiny, but ironically fell backinto his bizarre misfortune that was in the end, inevitable.     Misfortune, sullen realities, deception all a res ult of Oedipus knowingtoo much and at the same clipping too little of his true lot in life. Knowledge waswhat nurtured him into false pretenses. Knowledge was a false pretense. Byknowing that his parents were out of harms way, namely his, he knew that hisprophecy would not come true. He knew that as dogged as his scram was stillalive and he was married to a wo earth not even related to his mother, he would not comprise the offspring that men would shudder to look upon. It was the epitome ofirony for Oedipus to know his fate, and try to avoid it with the knowledgethat he had obtained "My father was Polybus of Corinth, my mother the DorianMerope, and I was held the foremost man in all that town until a thing happened--a thing to startle a man, though not to come him angry as it made me. We weresitting at the table, and a man who had drunk too much cried out that I was notmy fathers son--and I, though angry, restrained my anger for that day but the attached day went to my fathe r and my mother and questioned them. They wereindignant at the taunt and that solace me--and yet the mans wordsrankled...I sought where I office escape those infamous things--the doom that waslaid upon me."     When Oedipus fled from his parents, he started the chain reaction ofironic happenstance that would eventually direct him in a sail through circle back