to be or not to be

Oedipus' fate cannot be altered, his final destiny is set. The path Oedipus takes to get to his unavoidable fate can be altered although his actions and his manner make his downfall more dramatic. The gods laid Oedipus' fate when he was young and although Oedipus tries to avoid his destiny the outcome is inevitable. Oedipus' actions may change the road he takes to get there but in the end fate cannot be avoided.
Oedipus' fate cannot be avoided and this is established and shown when he ends up in the situation of meeting Laius at the crossroads, resulting in Laius' death. Although Oedipus' pride and confronting manner makes him act the way that he does, the final outcome, that being Laius' death, is unavoidable. Another instance where Oedipus tries to avoid his fate but ends up fulfilling it is when he marries his mother, Jocasta. Oedipus flees Corinth after hearing the prophecy from the oracle, believing that Polybus and Merope are his par...