Free will vs Determinism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Free will vs Determinism - Essay employmentBased on his past transgression, King Laius of Thebes, the father of Oedipus, and his descendants were doomed to tragedy as predicted by Apollos Oracle. Thus, the tragic hero Oedipus hazard was sealed even before his birth (Dilman 21). Laius was destined to run at the hands of his own son, Oedipus. The king attempts to eliminate the infant son by ordering his married woman Queen Jocasta to get him killed. However, his will to divert his destiny is interceded by fate through a sociable shepherd who rescues the abandoned baby. Ultimately, Oedipus is raised by the childless king of Corynth, Polybus and his queen Merope (Sophocles 36). The greater the attempts to intervene with fate, they give ear only to strengthen the victory of the prognostic.Later Oedipus as a grown man comes to know from Apollos Delphic Oracle, that he would be the murderer of his father and would mate with his own mother. In an attempt to interrupt this prediction f rom coming accredited on Polybus and Merope whom he believes to be his true parents, Oedipus leaves Corinth. It is clear that Oedipus pits his strength against the fate predicted for him by Apollo (Dilman 22). However, by leaving his foster home in Corynth to protect his parents from himself, unaware that Polybus and Merope were not his true parents, he makes the prophecy come true. Thus, bit travelling to Thebes, he meets his true father Laius, while some(prenominal) are unaware of each others identities. The haughty father and the arrogant and impetuous son (Dilman 23) quarrel oer whose chariot has the right of way, and Oedipus kills his father. Thus, fate works through the participants characters, and one part of the Oracles prophecy comes true. He frees the kingdom of Thebes from a sphinxs curse (Sophocles 10), is rewarded with the kingdom and married to the dowager Queen Jocasta, his biological mother, while each is unaware of the others identity, consequently fulfilling the entire prophecy.After