Critical Analysis of Oedipus the King: Arguments For Predestined Life

In middle school, I tried out for a club soccer team and did not make the team. As a result of not making the soccer team, my parents signed me up to take dance lessons. Looking back on how I failed to make the soccer team, I now realize if I had made the soccer team I would never have discovered dance. I know I was destined to be cut from the soccer team in order for me to find my passion in dance.

In the play, Oedipus the King, Sophocles illustrates that each life is predestined and freewill is a delusion. Sophocles explores the ideas of predestination and freewill by juxtaposing Oedipus, who chooses to make his own destiny with characters who follow their predetermined path. Sophocles emphasizes Oedipus’s belief of freewill in order to convey that Oedipus’s choices made him do exactly what was predicted of him. Sophocles is speaking to the men of Ancient Greece in this play because during this time only men could attend the theatre; however, Sophocles is trying to proclaim that each person’s life is predestined and freewill does not exist. The Merriam-Webster dictionary proclaims, “freewill is freedom of humans to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or by divine intervention” (Merriam-Webster). The Online Etymology Dictionary mandates, “predestination is the action of God in foreordaining certain of mankind through grace to salvation or eternal life” (Online Etymology). Sophocles, author of Oedipus the King, believes every life is predestined and freewill is simply a fantasy, and I agree because of family, religion, education and jobs.

Family is one example that demonstrates predestination rather than freewill. Every single person is born without choosing who their parents are going to be. In Oedipus the King, the Shepherd confesses, “In pity, master. I thought he would take it away to a foreign country-to the place he came from. If you are the man he says you are, you were born the most unfortunate of men” (Sophocles). In this play, Sophocles illustrates how there is no possible way for one to escape who they are supposed to be.

Religion is another example of predestination throughout humanity. Religions are solely based upon the idea of predestination, the majority believe in a God that foreordained people’s lives. In Oedipus the King, the Chorus declares, “May destiny be with me always; Let me observe reverence and purity in word and deed” (Sophocles). In this quote, Sophocles is referencing a higher power who has foreordained all that will happen.

Education is an example of how every life is predetermined and free will is a fantasy. People are assigned to schools based upon where they reside. Students are not given the choice of which school to attend. Students are assigned which classes they are put in. Students do not get the ability to choose which curriculum their teachers teach in the classroom.

Jobs are another factor that demonstrates predestination. In Oedipus the King, Tiresias predicts, “Blind instead of seeing, beggar instead of rich, he will make his way to foreign birth, but he will be revealed as a native-born Theban” (Sophocles). In this quote, Sophocles demonstrates predestination in Oedipus’s life. Sophocles illustrates that regardless of how hard one tries to escape fate, they are incapable of achieving freewill. In today’s world, children often are destined to take over their parents businesses.

Next time one is anxiously wondering if they will do anything important with their life, they can find comfort in that their life already has a predestined purpose. Try not to become overwhelmed about the choices made or not made. Remember freewill is only a figure of imagination.