In Oedipus the King, Sophocles makes it clear that the gods control the destiny of Oedipus. The story of Oedipus the King had existed for decades before Sophocles transcribed it into a play. By understanding that the ideas and concepts of Oedipus existed before Sophocles had written the play, it reveals his attitudes and philosophies were embedded in the play. It is virtually impossible for a person to avoid writing personal influences on a story. One’s environment and philosophy greatly effects the perspective in which they analyze the world.
This play requires some understanding of the background. Oedipus the King was first performed at the Great Dionysus festival. The highpoint of this festival was a three-day competition among the playwrights.
Sophocles and other playwrights who introduced their work during the Great Dionysia sought to instill a sense of religious awe at the mysterious power of the gods, whose perfect knowledge of events stands in contrast to the imperfect knowledge of mortal beings. (1082, Charters and Charters)
It is important to realize the entertainment value of these plays. The playwrights goal is not to just create a play that has a deep philosophical meaning without a good storyline. In understanding that playwrights “…sought to instill a sense of religious awe…” one would think that the role of the gods would be emphasized. (1082, Charters and Charters)
The role of the gods is quite clear: they control Oedipus’s fate. Fate is unavoidable; no matter if a person knows before hand that they are going to commit an act. Many individuals think that if they foreknow the act, they would change something in their life to stop it from occurring. The only true solution to the correction of the problem would be to never hear a prophecy in the first place. Otherwise the prophecy sets into motion events that will eventually bring the person to the point where they will commit the act.
The foreshadowing of the eventual fate of Oedipus is written in the first lines of the play. The citizens of Thebes have been struck with a plague because the murderer of Laius is in Thebes. “It was believed at that time that the well-being of the state was a reflection of the health of its ruler.” (1082, Charters and Charters)
Once King Oedipus is told of the reasons for the plague, he walks out of the palace to begin a large and long speech. The basic idea of this long speech is to let the chorus know that he will be the one to answer their prayers. Ironically this statement is true. Unknowingly he stumbles upon the truth. Because the audience knew beforehand the story of Oedipus the King, a foreshadowing takes place.
After Oedipus states that he will answer their prayers, sets out to seek a prophet to tell him who committed the murder. In this scene there are a few things that we must discuss. Tiresias is blind, but sees the truth about the situation. Oedipus has sight, yet is blind to the truth about himself. Once the truth is said in plain sight, Oedipus’s actions seemed to be controlled to a certain extent. Even though the truth is laid out, Oedipus is kept in the dark by actions of the gods. If at that point Oedipus realized what he’d done, he’d lose his power. Interestingly enough, the gods will for Oedipus to keep his pride. Apollo controls this flaw to continue Oedipus down his path to his demise. Later in the play when Oedipus’s is revealed to be the murderer, he rakes his eyes. An ironic change occurs here. He becomes blind but now can see the truth.
Other actions of Oedipus are seen to be controlled by the gods. His biological parents upon learning of the prophecy sent their child away with a shepherd to be a prince in Corinth. These are events the prophecy set into motion; they were unstoppable. Oedipus was never told what the prophecy said. At one banquet the young Oedipus overheard that he was prophesied to kill his father and sleep with his mother. Again this event caused the young prince to run away and return to Thebes, his birth town. If the prophecy was told by an oracle who was empowered by Apollo, would not the events themselves be planned to lead Oedipus to his awful destiny? I believe so, and Oedipus believed it as well. Line 1467 and 1468 contain Oedipus’s claim:
Apollo, friends, Apollo –
He ordained my agonies –
This play clearly sets forth a belief that the gods determine our destiny. Our actions are controlled to make their will complete. Oedipus was guided by the actions of his parents and those of his own choosing. The events were set in motion by a prophecy, and each event was predetermined by Apollo. As seen, fate cannot be avoided, and must be followed whether the individual desires it to be or not.
Work Cited
Charters, Ann and Charters, Samuel. Literature and its Writers: A Compact Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama . 3rd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2004.
