Greek Fate The early Greeks were doting believers of fate.

Fate can be defined as, the principle or determining cause or will by which things in general are believed to come to be as they are or events to happen as the do. according to Websters. But the Greeks perspective on fate was quite different. They believed the Gods completely controlled everyones outcome in life. It was considered that the Gods worked in delicate ways, altering the characteristics of people to help them either gain or suffer a suitable outcome. Sometimes giving characters flaws, called harmatia in Greek. This happened to be the case in Oedipuss story. The grand Sophoclean play, Oedipus the King, is one of the first to precisely depict Aristotles Tragic Hero. Written in 5th century BCE, Sophocles mastered the employment of character flaws in his Greek dramas. By means of using Oedipus as his tragic hero, Sophacles able to play with the audiences emotions. Plays in ancient Greece were teaching moments, they were part of a festivals of plays in which poets would produce plays for all to see. In the play, Sophocles first depicts Oedipus as privileged man, who earned his high status. Then the poet rips outs the audiences most mournful emotions, pity and terror, thus screening Oedipuss fall from importance. Sophacles deliberately gave firm flaws in Oedipuss character. He anticipated his downfall. The principle behind Greek drama was to be a reminder of the audiences own mortality. Sophacles developed his stories in a way in which people can learn from one an others mistakes. Oedipus is the epitome of Aristotles tragic hero; he undergoes the all the attributes required to for fill this stature. Oedipuss tragic flaw is introduced early

into the play; he believes he can avoid the oracles prophecy. He is not the type of man to be told what to do, Oedipus is a man of high stature; he is refereed to as, king of the land, our greatest power (line 16). As he stands before his distressed people, his plagued city, he exclaims, Here I am myself-you all know me, the world knows of my fame (line 7,8) He embodies nobility as apart of his innate character. Oedipus recognizes his royal house of Thebes. Although a king, he is only but a man, and man whose life he has worked at to get where he is, King of Thebes. Hes a relatable man, a man of many hearts, but also a man of many emotions. He cares for his people and their wellbeing. When the priest asks what hes going to do about the plague Oedipus answers, my spirit grieves for the citygroping, laboring over many paths of thought I have found one cure (line 75/75, 79/80). His words indicate that he is very inflicted by this matter and intends on solving it. Another example is when Creon brings in Tireisas; Tireisas determined that Oedipus was the plague. Oedipus was very quick to point the finger, and blame Creon for this false information, as he believed Creon was trying to over throw him. He ends up biting his own tongue, I am agony (line 1445). He feels pain by the end of the story and his for told prophecies become true. Fate is manipulated by ones actions but in the end its controlled by powers beyond their control. The Gods control your fate, the events cannot be dictated. Although the Gods had intentionally preordained Oedipus past two crimes, he still strives for the truth on his own. Oedipus doesnt believe in the power of the oracles, he counts on his own ability to strive for the truth. The differences among the trust in the gods oracles and the trust in his own cleverness develop like the comparison between religion and science in 19 th

century novels. Science trying to out prove religion, but the paradox is that Oedipuss scientific method and the oracles both end up in the same pla ce. By searching for truth, it reveals that the oracles prophecies were all but true. In his calling for truth of the prophecies, he proves himself to be a man of intelligence, and problem solver, a riddle solver. He becomes above everyone; his arrogance controls his outcome. He tries to obtain what is not his, break the glass ceiling. He tries to beat the gods at their own game trying to outrun fate. These are the very attributes that brought him to Thebes in the first place. He happened to be the only man able to solve the Sphinxs riddle. His intelligence and arrogance make him the man he was. Yet it was also what determined his fate. When Oedipus first came to Thebes, he rid the town of the Sphinx, in return, gaining his right to the throne and Jocasta. By ridding the town of the Sphinx, he kills Laius and ends up completing the circle by marrying Jocasta. The Sphinxs riddle is stretched out through the entire play, even if the Sphinxs words were never known, the audience would of known the words: what is that goes four feet in the morning, two feet at midday, and three feet in the evening? Oedipus replied a man. Through the core of the play, Oedipus proves to be that man himself. The four feet in the morning were Oedipus as a child, two legs at midday was Oedipus as a man. Relying on himself instead of others, even the Gods. And ending up with Oedipus leaving Thebes as an old blind man using a cane, his third foot. Oedipus was more than the solver of the riddle but the riddle himself. Oedipuss punishment was far worse than the crimes he committed; he lost his legacy, his land, his sight, his family, his life. He was exiled from the land

he once was king of, purged of his sight, which only allowed him to see the truth, his family disowned, and forever in knowledge of his misfortunes. Wandering the earth alone, in Greek mythology, is the worst punishment one can receive. His crimes to huge for hanging (line 1506). He believes he doesnt deserve death; death is too easy, he must suffer though his mistakes. Even the Chorus believes he has gone through too much Pitiful, you suffer so, you understand so much I wish youd never known (line 1483/4). Although Oedipus goes through a dreadful punishment he comes out learning a few things from his over all experience. He accepts his blindness, Oblivion-what a blessing for the mind to dwell a world away from pain (line 1524/5). It helps him forget the truth, and hes able to more for fill his ending life. Because he has completed the two foreseen prophecies Oedipus knows no sickness can destroy me (line 1560). He is set to die on the Cithareon Mountains, his everlasting tomb- [to be] buried alive (line 1594). His beginning was his end. The reason behind his punishments being so outlandishly crazy is because at the time these plays were used as teaching lessons. They were purposeful moments of teaching for the audiences. The Chorus reflects these lessons, they learn from Oedipuss mistakes. They understand Oedipuss hardships and must understand his mistakes throughout the story. Asking questions to improve their understanding of the concepts being portrayed by Sophocles. An example is at the end of the story when the Chorus says, count no man happy till he dies, free of pain at last (line 1686/7). The Chorus comes to a full circle at that point and learns the intended lesson. Dont be arrogant.

Oedipus the King is a very influential play, fully understanding the events of this play from the moments before and after Oedipuss acknowledgment, Sophacles keeps you on the edge of your seat.Heightening your emotions, using dramatic irony to engage the audience in the characters and their flawed attributes. The play accomplishes the steps in Aristotles Tragic Hero outline by showing the audience a man, not a perfect man, a relatable man. Oedipus is only human, in spite of of his arrogance; we recognize his astonishing responses to his sins. The Chorus and audiences are absolutely moved by pity and fear. The sympathy for this broken man, and a fear that his tragedy could be their own.