Theme: Fate And Free Will

Question 1

What is tragic about Oedipus ?

Answer 1

Takes every action to avoid fate where as this inextricably draws him nearer to his fate

Question 2

What is double motivation ?

Answer 2

• Good and fate
• The character and their decisions and actions
• these run in tandem with each other
• It’s a tragic force
• Oedipus fate is preordained

Question 3

How is fate and prophecy important to Lauis?

Answer 3

Lauis had a son knew his son would kill him then went ahead and had a son
Then disposed of the son without making sure he died

Question 4

How is the Oedipus self punishment important for fate and free will ?

Answer 4

• ‘Apollo ordained my agonies..But the hand that struck my eyes was mine’
• encapsulates the tragic conceit on of double determination
• the gods fated Oedipus to such tragedy yet he recognises how he invoked this

Question 5

What does the play argue about free will ?

Answer 5

• It’s irrelevant everything any individual will do is preordained to lead to a certain outcome

Question 6

What is tragic about Oedipus invocation of fate ?

Answer 6

He acts as a good monarch and leader however in doing so he invoked his own fate
- In the prologue we learn that he sent Creon to Delphi and learns that they must find Lauis’ murderer
- In the 1st episode Tireseas arrives after Oedipus’ request in hopes of finding a solution yet this lead to Oedipus’ tense altercation and subsequent search for his identity
- He only did this in his attempt to be a good king and in his ‘pity’ for the people he evoked his own downfall