Oedipus was a man who thought he was doing good and the best for his people. But ultimately he ruined his life and shamed his kingdom. Oedipus claims that all his decisions are based on his own free will. But as soon as he puts all the pieces together he claims he was cursed. But which one was it? Is it even possible that he can have his own free will and be predestined? In the story Oedipus goes to the oracle and hears many people tell him the prophecy of his life. Also, by his own choice he decides to kill Laius and marry Jocasta. It may be not like this in every story, but in the case of Oedipus it’s a combination of his own free will in addition to his fate. Oedipus has been to the Oracle at Delphi before. But in the story he decides to save that crucial detail for the last possible moment. But when …show more content…
Granted it was over a childish feud but he still killed him. “As I drew near the triple-branching roads, a herald met me and a man who sat in a car drawn by colts--as in thy tale-- the man in front and the old man himself threatened to thrust me rudely from the path, then jostled by the charioteer in wrath I struck him, and the old man, seeing this, watched till I passed and from his car brought down full on my head the double-pointed goad. Yet was I quits with him and more; one stroke of my good staff sufficed to fling him clean out of the chariot seat and laid him prone. And so I slew them every one,”( Oedipus Rex). He kills Laius over a petty problem and upholds that end of his fate. But Oedipus also claims that it was his own decision to kill that random old man on the road. Later on he answers the riddle of the Sphinx, which makes him the king of Thebes as a result. When he becomes the king he marries the queen, Jocasta. Now even before he knows that she’s his mother he falls in love with her. He decided to marry her. Both of these actions are of his free will, but nevertheless his actions sealed and proved his