In the Greek tragedy Oedipus the King written by Sophocles, the antagonist is fate. The theme of fate is deeply intertwined in the plot. In this play, all meet their fate despite trying to escape it. Two characters bring about a fate worse than their original fate as punishment for trying to cheat fate.
The first instance-involving fate occurs when Oedipus sends Creon to the temple of Apollo to find the fate of Thebes and how to rid Thebes of the plague the people are suffering from (Sophocles, lines 70 – 74). Oedipus says, “I sent Meoeceus son of Creon, Jocasta’s brother, to Apollo, that he might learn there by what act or word I could save this city” (Sophocles, lines 70-74). Apollo is the god the people go to because he is the god of prophecy and of healing. It is important to note that Apollo made the prophecy to Laius and Jocasta that they would bear a son who would kill Laius, and Apollo made the prophecy to Oedipus that he would kill his father and lay with his mother.
Fate is next brought into the play when Creon sends for the blind prophet of Apollo, Teiresias. Against his will, Teiresias reveals Oedipus’ fate. Oedipus is so anxious to find the murderer of Laius that he will not give up until the murderer is found. Oedipus relentlessly pursues the truth, unwilling to give up until the truth is found.
After Oedipus repeatedly provokes Teiresias, Teiresias reveals what Oedipus is and who Oedipus really is. Teiresias says to Oedipus, “I say that with those you love best you live in foulest shame unconsciously and do not see where you are in calamity” (Sophocles, lines 366). Teiresias is alluding to the fact that Oedipus unknowingly is married to his mother and has produced offspring through her. Oedipus is too blind to comprehend what Teiresias is saying. Teiresias goes on to say, “You are a poor wretch to taunt me with the very insults which every one soon will heap upon yourself” (Sophocles, lines 371 – 373).
Teiresias is warning Oedipus that everything he thinks he has, is not really his. People will turn against Oedipus and he will lose everything. Oedipus blasphemes against the gods when he tells Teiresias that doesn’t have the gift of prophecy. This is blasphemy because Teiresias is the messenger between gods and humans, and when Oedipus calls him a liar he is denying the words of the gods.
Upon further provocations, Teiresias tells Oedipus that Oedipus doesn’t know where he is living or who his parents are (Sophocles, lines 414 – 415). Teiresias insinuates that Oedipus is both father and sibling to his children when he says, “And of the multitude of other evils establishing a grim equality between you and your children, you know nothing” (Sophocles, lines 424 – 425). Next Teiresias predicts, “This day will show your birth and will destroy you” (Sophocles, line 438).
In his final speech towards Oedipus, Teiresias tells Oedipus that he is the murderer. Teiresias further tells Oedipus that though he is a stranger to Thebes, he will soon discover that he is a native Theban. Oedipus will also discover that he is both father and brother to his children, and both son and husband to his wife. Teiresias aptly foretells that Oedipus will lose everything; that Oedipus will be blind and exiled (Sophocles, lines 447 -460).
After first arguing with Teiresias and then Creon, Oedipus talks to Jocasta, bringing about our third example of fate as an antagonist. Upon learning what the argument was about Jocasta relays that an oracle had come to Laius and told him that he would “die a victim at the hands of his own son” (Sophocles, lines 712 – 713). The king had pierced the infant’s ankles and sent him to die, and besides Laius was killed by highwayman. Jocasta argues that Oedipus should not fear prophecy because, “Apollo failed to fulfill his oracle to the son, that he should prove to kill his father, and to Laius also proved false…death at his son’s hands never came to pass. So clear in this case were the oracles, so clear and false” (Sophocles, lines 720-723). Jocasta should have known that she could not outwit the gods, or fate.
Fate next comes into play when Oedipus, who has begun to think he is Laius’ killer, recounts the dinner where the drunken man accused Oedipus of being a bastard. Oedipus goes to the oracle at Delphi to find his destiny (Sophocles, lines 777 – 787). The oracle tells Oedipus that he is fated to lie with his mother, and “to show daylight to an accursed breed,” and to be murderer of his father (Sophocles, lines 791 – 794). After hearing the oracle’s prediction, Oedipus flees Corinth to protect Merope and Polybus and to escape his destiny, which gives us our fifth instance of fate (Sophocles, 794-796).
It is important to note that in Jocasta’s story, the curse that was prophesied against Laius only states that he would father a son that would murder him. When Oedipus receives his prophecy not only was he destined to kill his father, he was also fated to lie with his mother and produce cursed off spring. Morford and Lenardon describe how Laius became cursed. While in exile, Laius was guest to King Pelops. Laius fell in love with the son of the king and abducted him. Zeus punished Laius with this curse (Morford & Lenardon, 380). The Greeks took hospitality very seriously. It was a great honor to be a guest in someone’s home. It was a travesty for Laius to abuse King Pelops hospitality and generosity by abducting his son.
The change in the curse was brought about by Jocasta, who feared the oracle’s prophecy (Sophocles, line 1176). Jocasta sent the infant, Oedipus, to his death. In doing this Jocasta was attempting to cheat fate. Jocasta thought that if she killed the baby, she could change her husband’s destiny. The added prophecy that Oedipus would lie with his mother and produce cursed offspring is a result of Jocasta’s attempt to cheat fate. Oedipus is really an innocent victim of fate.
Again fate is seen when the messenger brings news that Polybus has died a natural death. Both Oedipus and Jocasta rejoice briefly in this news for it further proves that oracles are wrong (Sophocles, lines 965 – 975). Yet, Oedipus still has fear of prophecy for he will not return to Corinth as long as Merope is alive, for fear that he will lay with her (Sophocles, lines 985-986). The messenger tells Oedipus that Merope is not Oedipus’ mother, as he himself gave Oedipus to her and to Pelops as a gift (Sophocles, lines 1015 – 1025). It is a strange twist of fate this messenger both took Oedipus to Corinth, but also is one of the final puzzle pieces in Oedipus’ true identity.
When the shepherd arrives on the scene he is forced by Oedipus to verify that Oedipus is the child of Jocasta and Laius. Oedipus’ is now forced to realize that he has not escaped his fate. The entire prophecy has been fulfilled. After finding Jocasta’s body, “hanging, the twisted rope around her neck” (Sophocles, line 1264), Oedipus “tore the…gold chased brooches fastening her robe – away from her and lifting them up high dashed them into his own eyeballs” (Sophocles, lines 1267-1270). In the end of the play Oedipus is blind, ruined, and exiled just as Teiresias foretold when he said, “a deadly footed, double striking curse, from father and mother both, shall drive you forth out of this land, with darkness on your eyes that now have strait vision” (Sophocles, lines 416-420).
Fate came out victorious in the end. In the Greek vision Fate cannot be altered or cheated. Even the gods cannot change Fate. Instead of claiming one victim, many were ruined. If Jocasta had not tried to cheat fate, perhaps Laius would be the only death. Instead Laius and Jocasta are both dead, Oedipus is ruined and his children are cursed by this incestuous pollution. Fate is a force not to be reckoned with.
