Free will and Determinism in Oedipus the King by Sophocles

He spends so much time persuading the murder that he does not realize that it was him all along. Oedipus hubris personality gets in his way by putting a curse on him and ends up blinding himself because of it. The role of hubris controlled Oedipus fate because he did not listen to Tiresias’ prophecy, avoided Apollo’s prophecy, and he blindly tries to pursue Laius murder without realizing he killed Laius. In the end of the play, Oedipus is seen as a tragic hero who led himself to his tragic down fall because of his excessive pride. When Oedipus realizes his true identity he could not bear the truth and ask Creon to sends him into exile.

After this meeting, the Prince pretends to be insane to see if the ghost is telling the truth. You can understand why Hamlet would act insane because of these terrible events taking place. Initially, Hamlet’s plan is to act insane to find out exactly what happened to his father but he wants to also avenge his death. This state of mind allows Hamlet to behave in almost anyway and not be questioned about his behaviour. Hamlet knows that having the correct facts is so important because without hard evidence he may unjustly kill his uncle and have to d... ... middle of paper ... ...set with Hamlet for murdering his father, Polonius, and conspires with King Claudius against Hamlet.

If the killer himself confesses, he will not be punished, but will be permanently exiled from the city. On the other hand, if any citizen conceals the killer, Oedipus then says, “He will be cursed.” Oedipus continues that he will pursue the investigation “just as if Laius was my own father.” The object of his search changes as the play progresses because Oedipus does not know he is his worst enemy; he is ignorant of his fate but soon realizes the harsh reality of his life. First of all, Oedipus cannot accept things the way they are and he is very head-strong in continuing the investigation. Unknowingly he is his own enemy. As stated in the Anders Zachrisson article, “Oedipus the King: Quest for Self-Knowledge--Denial of Reality,” Tiresias, the blind seer asks Oedipus to stop the investigation, Oedipus refuses and becomes increasingly offensive.

The prophecy controls some of Oedipus' life, but it's because the fear of it coming true that drives the characters to take ill action. Throughout the play we are given evidence showing his poor decision making and anger issues, but never any definitive proof that Oedipus' future is out of his control. Oedipus the King tells of Oedipus' struggle with his fate. It is Oedipus' short temper, pride, and poor decision making that cause him to make the choices that lead to his demise. Oedipus and his family take action to ensure the prophecy of him killing his father and sleeping with his mother would not come true.

An insane person would not have the capability to think about the consequences of their choice while they are one step away from the murder they desire. In both instances, Hamlet uses discipline in order to assure his plan works perfectly. When the Queen was asked if she knew how Hamlet was, she said that he was as mad as the sea and wind (4.1.6-7). This actually aided Hamlet in his plan because he was able to deceive the King even more. Sadly, Ophelia was also affected by Hamlet’s acting skills and she went insane.

Firstly, it allowed Hamlet to confuse those around him about what the cause of his troubled mind was and, also, about what his true intentions are behind any of his actions. This thought is portrayed through Hamlet deceiving Polonius into believing that his love for Ophelia was the root of his madness. Consequently, Polonius went immediately... ... middle of paper ... ...o keep his investigation hidden for as long as possible, to drive away all other aspects of his life that might interfere with his task and to absolve himself of all guilt he may acquire while on his quest. There is proof in his actions that his madness was feigned as he continued thinking rationally and speaking logically to characters like Horatio and Gertrude. A madman’s thought are not composed of logical rationale and he does not speak sanely to some, while at the same time, insanely to others.

Oedipus has sent Creon to the Oracle to find a remedy for his city’s troubles. Creon would like to share the message with him private, but the brash king will not listen. He says, “Speak out, speak to us all I grieve for these, my people, far more than I fear for my own life.” (163) Creon is forced to comply to his king’s wish & relates the fateful message. According to the Oracle, Thebes’ troubles are punishment for harboring a murderer, the killer of Laius, Oedipus’ predecessor. Upon hearing this, Oedipus launches into a fervent oratory in condemnation of this man, and warns all who will listen about the consequences of harboring him or trying to hide him from his search.

Oedipus would not let them shame him, but Oedipus calmed down and his search for the killer continued. “And now you would expel me, because you think that you will find a place by Creon’s throne. I think you will be sorry, both you and your accomplice, for your plot to drive me out. And did I not regard you as an old man, some suffering would have taught you that what was in your heart was treason” (463-470). The Oracle and Creon and in Oedipus’ journey throughout the play.

Oedipus choses to seek the truth about the murderer of Laius, honourably indeed to save the people of Thebes, but through this choice he in a sense administers his own lethal injection. Oedipus is warned about the consequences of his actions by Teresias when he prophesises the outcome of the search for truth. Due to Oedipus' ego which is built up by the pedestal that the people of Thebes have put him on, he does not accept the help of Teresias and continues to search. His opinion of himself being above the Gods leads him to then again shun the help of Jocasta who once again warns him of the consequences of the search for truth. Oedipus' persistence lands him our criticism, at this point we cannot criticise Jocasta as she tries to help him, and warn him about what will happen is he persists.

His various reasons for delay in seeking revenge is that he wants to make sure his uncle Claudius is one hundred percent guilty and at the same time does not want to hurt his mother. He has too much Oedipus complex, love for his mother. Hamlet is having a hard time finding his courage mentally and physically. He needs more proof of his uncle’s murderous acts before revenge the death of his father. Hamlet decides to set his uncle up by using a play that is set up exactly like his father’s death.