Fate and Free will in Oedipus Rex

In his play Oedipus the King, Sopocles effectively illustrates and defines the relationship existing between fate and free will. Essentially, fate is the overall structure that guides human existence, and free will is the attitude that the individual adopts towards this structure. Therefore, the leading cause of Oedipus’ destruction, is his refusal to humble himself to the existence of anything greater than himself. The following passage uttered by the course captures this underlying moral, “But if any man comes striding, high and mighty in all he says and does, no fear of justice, no reverence for the temple of the gods-let a rough doom tear him down.”(206) Thus, it is the dominating attributes of Oedipus’ personality such as his self-confidence, courage and determination that essentially compel him upon his own ruin.
Oedipus’ tremendous self-confidence is a significant contributing factor to his eventual dem...