Free Will In Sophocles Oedipus The King

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In the Greek tragedy, Oedipus the King by Sophocles, Oedipus’ prophecy and hubris bring the epic downfall of his character. While it is impossible to avoid fate, the way one responds to fate is a matter of free will.
From the beginning of the story Oedipus acted in many ways that lead to his ironic downfall through his unrelenting quest for glory and truth. Upon learning that the plague in Thebes could be stopped by finding the killer of Laius, Oedipus curses himself unknowingly in front of the chorus when he says, “I now call down a life to fit a life dragged out in degradation. And if I myself should prove myself to have him in my halls an inmate, Then on myself I call down every curse I’ve just invoked” (Sophocles, 15). Oedipus was too proud

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