Was Oedipus Responsible For His Own Downfall

Based upon the events of Sophocles’ “Oedipus the King,” it becomes apparent that the gods held all the power over the downfall of Oedipus. The twisted fate of Oedipus was attached to him for his whole life, controlling his every move. While there is some contradicting evidence that shifts in the direction that Oedipus caused his downfall, there is more evidence saying otherwise. Due to this, the conclusion that Oedipus was not the cause of his downfall becomes apparent.

Many would argue that Oedipus was the primary perpetrator in the fulfillment of his fate. One example of this is when Oedipus blinded himself after discovering what he had done, “He ripped out the golden pins with which her clothes were fastened, raised them high above his head,

This prophecy was not unpredictable, only unavoidable. Jocasta and Laius quickly attempted to be rid of their newly born infant once they had heard of its grim fate, “As for the son--three days after his birth Laius fastened his ankles together and had him castaway on the pathless mountains,” (41). Jocasta and Laius believed that they could beat their fates by sending their son to an early demise. They knew that a three-day-old infant had virtually no control over their life. Without a parental figure an infant would quickly die, especially left alone in the wilderness. Fate took full control of this moment when the shepherd discovered and rescued Oedipus. Fate kept Oedipus alive just to lead him into his horrible destiny. When Tiresias, the blind prophet, came to Thebes he revealed the truth about what will happen to Oedipus later in the story, “Blind instead of seeing, beggar instead of rich, he will make his way to foreign soil, feeling his way with a stick,” (27). Fate had already planned out the future of Oedipus. Oedipus could not change an action that had already been foreseen by the gods. Every decision that Oedipus made, no matter beneficial or harmful, would ultimately lead up to this brutal end. Fate had been lurking in the shadow, controlling Oedipus like a puppet for all of his