Oedipus is a victim of a tragic manipulation of the gods and Fates, and whose only flaw

is his arrogance and blindness.

The belief of fate and destiny govern people less now, than before. The modernity of

today decreased our belief that events are beyond our control, and that individuals are free

creatures that is capable of reason and choice. However, one must not deny the existence of that

something, higher than that of an individual. That not all man’s decisions, his success and his

failure can b attributed to him and himself only.

Gods and Fate in Greek Play

Fate is a reality, an unappeasable decision from the gods, or so the Greeks’ ancient

culture and customs show. Their acceptance of power and divine being along with the belief of

an undeniable destiny determined by the gods has decisively governed their lives, culture, and

the Greeks as we know today (Higgins and Higgins 2011). This dominant belief is evident in the

portrayal of man and nature in Greek plays; man as a creature birthed by the gods and molded by

their divine will, an authority that is never to be denied, or escaped from.

The Greek theater is seen as an extension of an altar, a religious festivity that worships

deities. The stage allows for a closeness to the deities they worship, an opportunity for the

attendants to relate to the divine power they believe in. (Higgins and Higgins 2011).

The Manipulation of the King’s Fate

Sophocles Oedipus Rex shows another variation of the fragilities of man and the reality of

destiny or fate. Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex has illustrated the undeniable power of divine will, that

humans, even the great King Oedipus is powerless against the gods.

(fig 1) Oedipus RexArt by: rezurekted http://rezurekted.deviantart.com/art/Oedipus-Rex-130419341

This is shown when the young Oedipus left his foster

parents upon knowing the fate he has of him murdering his

father, who at that time he thought was Polybos. However,

because of the failure of his parents in informing him that he

was their foster, he unknowingly killed Laios during his

travel and then on committed incest by taking his mother as

his wife. He tried to escape his prophesy during his youth,

yet all his decisions were in accordance to the writings of the

gods.

Can one really say that

Oedipus was at fault, if it was evident that fate has

predicted every decisions and consequences he encounters? Fig 1, an art by rezurekted (2009)

shows an illustration of Oedipus and his inability to determine his destiny. The blindness shows

the weakness man has, and the darkness and light portray a higher being that shadows man.

TEIRESIAS: What does it matter! Whether I speak or not, it is bound to come.OEDIPUS: Then, if "it'' is bound to come, you are bound to tell me.TEIRESIAS: No, I will not go on. Rage as you please (341-347)

The verse above further illustrates the power of fate, and that the prophet’s only role is to

see. Thus, fate cannot be change even with the insistence of Oedipus to know destiny. Truth, as

eluded by Teiresias is nothing but facts and inevitability.

Another evidence of the power of fate that played the family of Oedipus is the proof

Jocasta has divulge to Oedipus when she was denying the accuracy of prophecies. The king was

bound to be killed by his son, but was instead killed by highwaymen (Sophocles 707-725). But

unknown to Jocasta, the highwaymen was truly her son.

Oedipus was a willful man; he denies the workings of fate at the power of divinity,

insisting instead the ability of man to escape fate.

Oedipus’ tragedy: the arrogant King

Oedipus is but a mechanism for Sophocles to illustrate the weakness of the man. In Greek

plays, man is seen to carry out the will of the Gods, from their birth until they finish the journey

they are meant to do. However, it is at this point that the human character and its flaws are

presented to the audience. Oedipus is shown as a brilliant king, as men and women in their land

hail him for ridding the land of the Sphinx through a show of intelligence, thus he was king to the

people of Thebes. However, the king showed classic human flaws; his arrogance and blindness.

Oedipus is shown as an impressive king, exalted by many and is considered a hero of his

people. This is denoted from the priest exaltation of Oedipus as the “greatest of all men”

(Sophocles 46). His arrogance however have prevented him to see the inevitability of his fate, for

he is resolved that he has not done harm to the whole land, despite what the prophet said, and

even become enraged with the prophet’s words

TEIRESIAS: I say that you are the murderer whom you seek.OEDIPUS:Now twice you have spat out infamy. You'll pay for it!TEIRESIAS:Would you care for morel Do you wish to he really angry?OEDIPUS:Say what you will, Whatever you say is worthless.TEIRESIAS: I say you live in hideous shame with those Most dear to you. You can not see the evil.OEDIPUS: It seems you can go on mouthing like this for ever.TEIRESIAS: I can, if there is power in truth.OEDIPUS: There is:But not for you, not for you,You sightless, witless, senseless, mad old man! (415-425)

The text shows Oedipus; arrogance against the prophets words. He translated it as a

slander, an insult to his position as king, a threat to his position and power. He had wanted to

pursue the killer of the former king, not to restore peace and prosperity to his land, but to further

build up the glory he has acquired. He has himself believing that his intelligence and knowledge,

OedipusArt By: yrlynn http://yrlynn.deviantart.com/art/oedipus-235320904

that attributed to the feat he has accomplished in driving away the Sphinx through answering the

riddle that many found hard, would then again be the same answer to the challenge that befell

their land. However the prophet has alluded that the result was the opposite.

TEIRESIAS: You were a great man once at solving riddles.OEDIPUS: Mock me with that if you like; You will find it true.TEIRESIAS: It was true enough. It brought about your ruin. (512-514)

Oedipus seems confident that he alone can find out the killer of King Lauis. His rashness

to condemn, ironically himself, and his confidence of his intelligence made him ignore the

writings of the gods. He arrogantly took matters in his own hands, believing himself capable of

being a great king and hero without the help from the gods.

This blindness this author is referring to is not the

blindness cause by Oedipus to himself, rather it is the

blindness attributed to human frailty. Blindness caused

by not seeing the events beholding the future, a blind

spot or a human’s inability to see what is not in front of

him. This can also be understood as Oedipus denial of

his fate, his endeavors to escape the writings of the

gods, and the lack of wisdom and understanding that

man cannot be more powerful than the gods.

Some of his blindness however is deliberate, as

postulate earlier in this text. His deliberate about face of

his history and the denial of his real belief on prophesies.

The young Oedipus ran away from his foster father, after hearing the prophesy of murder, but an

Oedipus Part TwoArt by: larissahhttp://larissah.deviantart.com/art/oedipus-part-two-21113509

evident turn about on Oedipus view on prophesy was seen when the blind prophet was revealing

the prophecy.

It is then important to establish the extent of Oedipus crimes. This author takes on the

view of Aristotle’s hamartia, or a wrongdoing done without malice or wickedness (Dodds 1968

as cited by Haugen 2004). The murder then of Oedipus father and the incest with his mother

should be understood not as a crime, but ignorance on Oedipus’ part. However his flaws, his

overbearing pride, gave way to the fulfillment of the prophesy (Haugen 2004).

Significantly, the journey of the man becomes a cathartic point to the theater, where

audience can experience transcendence, bringing forth the consciousness to the truth of man and

nature (Higgins and Higgins 2011). Sophocles’ reduce King Oedipus to a human being,

powerless in the face of the gods and his destiny.

The Blinding of the King

Oedipus blinding himself after knowing the

horrible truth was an act of surrender to the power of

the gods.

Through his eyes, he tried to escape his fate,

but through his blindness, he now only sees the truth,

same as what the blind prophet is. The truth of the fate

he tried so hard to run away from. The blindness was a

reversal of his inability to see with his own eyes the power

of the gods. Thus the truth is shared by the gods not

through his eyes, but through his blindness. Blindness is seen in reality as a great impediment, a

MarionettePhotography by: MichelleRamsayhttp://www.deviantart.com/art/Marionette-187790296

very unfortunate weakness. However, it is the blind that has a greater perception, lesser judgment

of what is seen in face-value, higher sensitivity than those who can see with the eyes.

Perhaps then, the greatest tragedy in the

play, is not the fate of Oedipus, his murder and

incestuous acts, rather it was tragedy of knowing

the truth. That most of the time, reality is a harsher

story for all man. That truth is complicated and

painful; it could either be your warden or your

salvation. Nevertheless, the play is an

understanding of an existence of a web of life that

connects each man and woman, and that every pull of

the string makes man dance to the tune of the Fate

marionette.

Bibliography

Haugen, P. (2004). Hamartia and Hubris in the Story of Oedipus. LCMND E-JOURNAL,2003/4.

Retrieved from http://www.umanitoba.ca/linguistic_circle/e_journal/v2003_4.html

Higgins, C., & Higgins, R. (2004). CliffsNotes Oedipus trilogy. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Pub.

Fitts, D., & Fitzgerald, R. (1939). The Antigone of Sophocles; an English version by Dudley Fitts

and Robert Fitzgerald. New York: Harcourt, Brace and company.

Artwork

Oedipus RexArt by: rezurekted http://rezurekted.deviantart.com/art/Oedipus-Rex-130419341

OedipusArt By: yrlynn http://yrlynn.deviantart.com/art/oedipus-235320904

Oedipus Part TwoArt by: larissahhttp://larissah.deviantart.com/art/oedipus-part-two-21113509

MarionettePhotography by: MichelleRamsayhttp://www.deviantart.com/art/Marionette-187790296

THE KING OF THEBES, THE POWER OF FATE AND WEAKNESS OF MAN(A position paper on Oedipus Rex)

By:

Michaela Angelica M. Paragas

University of the Philippines Los BanosHumanities V First Semester 14-15