Oedipus Review Analysis

Oedipus Review Analysis

  • Submitted By: espann09
  • Date Submitted: 04/21/2010 7:42 AM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 1270
  • Page: 6
  • Views: 726

“To believe in tragedies of fate is worse than believing in a tragic flaw (Gould 49).” In “The Innocence of Oedipus: The Philosophers on Oedipus the King,” Thomas Gould argues a man’s “free will” and responsibility based upon Aristotle, the Greeks, and Sophocles’ views. Gould believes “free will”, tragic flaw, and fate is interpreted incorrectly in the story of Oedipus; moreover, the play mentioned the protagonists’ actions were caused by the needs of “free will” or “free choice.” Free will and fate are different concepts; however, they interact with each other to create the predicted destiny of Oedipus. The article reviews the play in a way that narrows down Sophocles’ viewpoints about Oedipus and the gods.
“Free will” is the ability to make a decision freely; fate is the future result or outcome of someone’s actions. Both of those terms are two major themes in the play. Oedipus made the choice to search for the truth; however, his gods already laid out the order of events. Oedipus was “fated” to perform such actions by the gods; but when he came to his senses, he discovered that he already “fulfilled the prediction (Knox 149).” Oedipus’s “free will” and fate were team players in the play.
Sophocles’ wants his audience to see “Oedipus the King” as a tragedy of fate because he adored and honored his gods. Conversely, Gould’s described the story as “profound and moving (Gould 50)” How could the story be a tragedy of fate if it moved some of the readers? In other words, a tragedy of fate can not engage in someone’s feelings. However, if Oedipus knew his gods were using him, the story would be a tragedy of fate. Thomas argues that Oedipus is responsible and he had “free will.” Also, he wants his audience to recognize Oedipus freely chose to search for the truth, which resulted in his own ruin. Oedipus is a “man of action, swift and vigorous action (Knox 138).” Their gods knew he would be quick to act without thinking. Oedipus was easy. If there was something...

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