Comparing Fate And Free Will In Oedipus The King

Throughout history the story of Oedipus the King has remained a timeless classic. Due to this there have been many translations of the original story each with their own nuances. However, as evident when comparing the Robert Fagles and the Fitts and Fitzgerald, often times certain literary elements may be altered between translations. These changes have larger implications on the themes and motifs of the work, and make it seen in another light. Two of the biggest changes made between Fagles, and Fitts and Fitzgerald are the portrayal of the motif of fate and free will, and the word choice regarding fear and its implication for Oedipus’ character in the text. First, one of the contrasts between Fagles, and Fitts and Fitzgerald, is how fate …show more content…

Fear is a very important concept in understanding the impact of this specific scene in regards to the play as a whole. Oedipus at this time is on the brink of revealing the truth of his heritage and his dismal fate. He feels nothing but the dread that this revelation was to give him. This emotion is very important in the scene. In the Fagles translation of Oedipus says that, “But know, all those prophecies I feared - Polybus packs them off to hell with them” (Fagles 1061). This is very important to note because it makes no mention of Oedipus’ prior fear of the prophecies in the Fitts and Fitzgerald translation of the text. This implies that in the Fagles translation Oedipus held a higher esteem for religion. This is especially jarring because in all other parts of the text the word fear matches with some synonym. For example, in the Fagles translation has Oedipus states, “So you did. I was lost in fear” (Fagles 1066), while the Fitts and Fitzgerald translation says, “You had; it was my faint heart that betrayed me” (Fitts and Fitzgerald 50). Even when the expressions between the two translations are different, they still convey the concept of fear. This is not the case however for the Oedipus’ fear of prophecy. As such, Robert Fagles gives further characterization to Oedipus by emphasizing the respect he once held for the Gods and their