Essay, Research Paper

Fate plays a barbarous function in the lives of everyone related to Oedipus. Not merely was Oedipus & # 8217 ; s life condemned from the start, but the lives of his four kids were besides badly fated. The full lineage, get downing with Oedipus, met a tragic terminal or led a tragic life through no mistake of their ain. If non for destiny, the lives of Oedipus and his full household could hold been much better off.

The whole fiasco started with the birth of Oedipus. Oedipus was the lone kid of Laius and Jocasta, male monarch and queen of Thebes. They took Oedipus to the prophet at Delphi to hold his prognostication read. The prophet prophesized that Oedipus would kill his male parent and get married his female parent. In order to forestall this from go oning, Laius and Jocasta pierced Oedipus & # 8217 ; s pes and ordered a shepherd to abandon him on a versant. The shepherd pitied the kid and gave him to a herder from Corinth. The herder so gave the kid to Polybus and Merope, the childless male monarch and queen of Corinth. They adopted him and raised him as their ain. Oedipus grew up believing he was the prince of Corinth. He heard rumours that he was non the natural boy of Polybus and Merope, so he went to confer with the prophet of Delphi to happen the truth. The prophet repeated the same prognostication that was told to Laius and Jocasta. Thinking that Polybus and Merope were his parents, Oedipus left Corinth. Fate so stepped in and Oedipus met an old adult male accompanied by several retainers at a hamlets. The old adult male was Laius, on his manner to Delphi. Since both work forces were proud, they refused to step aside so the other could go through. Laius attacked Oedipus, who killed him and all but one of the retainers. Not recognizing that he had fulfilled half of his awful prognostication, Oedipus continued on his manner to Thebes. Upon geting at Thebes, Oedipus was confronted by a great Sphinx. After replying the Sphinx & # 8217 ; s riddle and fring Thebes of the monster, Oedipus was considered a hero. When the people learned of Laius & # 8217 ; s decease, believed to be the mistake of brigands, they made Oedipus their new male monarch. Oedipus finally had four kids: Eteocles, Polynices, Ismene, and Antigone. This fulfilled the other half of his atrocious destiny. Finally Oedipus learned of what he had done was consumed by desperation. After happening Jocasta hanging from the ceiling, Oedipus shouted that he could no longer bear to see his shame and gouged out his eyes with the broachs on Jocasta & # 8217 ; s frock. Oedipus was finally banished from the metropolis of Thebes, and wandered around Greece, unacceptable because of the expletive that was thought to be on him.

Finally Oedipus made his manner to Colonus. He requested to see the male monarch, Theseus. It is revealed to Oedipus by Ismene that a new prognostication has been told. The metropolis that possesses the grave of Oedipus will have continued good lucks. She so warns that Creon knows of the prognostication and will seek to coerce Oedipus back to Thebes. Theseus so enters and dainties Oedi

Pus respectfully. He agrees to protect Oedipus from Creon and let him to populate in Colonus until his decease. Oedipus promises that Athens will be rewarded. Fate once more interrupted Oedipus’s life at this occasion. After populating a life full of enduring he decided to rest in a grove of trees. It merely so happened that the grove was a sacred topographic point for the metropolis of Colonus. Oedipus so met with Theseus and was allowed to remain in Colonus in peace. He was non at that place long but at least he died with a little grade of award. Unfortunately, destiny was non so sort to the remainder of Oedipus’s posterities. Before he died Oedipus prophesized that his two boies, who abandoned him for a opportunity at the throne of Thebes, would kill each other in conflict. They were made co-rulers of Thebes, but each wanted complete regulation. Eteocles won over the people and was able to expatriate Polynices. Polynices so went to Argos and raised an ground forces to occupy Thebes. As predicted by Oedipus, Eteocles and Polynices met on the battleground and killed each other. Creon was one time once more made male monarch of Thebes. His first act as male monarch was to give Eteocles a province funeral. He condemned Polynices as a treasonist and would non let his organic structure to be buried. Antigone would non let this to go on and defied Creon by burying her brother. Creon was astonished by Antigone’s rebelliousness and ordered her to decease. With Antigone’s decease the bequest of Oedipus was complete. Not merely was one life full of enduring, but those of his kids were besides.

If non for destiny, much of the desperation in the lives of Oedipus and his kids could hold been averted. Oedipus and Laius were both far excessively obstinate for their ain good being, that much is true, but it was destiny that brought that package of pride together in the first topographic point. Destiny is besides responsible for Oedipus & # 8217 ; s glorification in decease. It merely so happens that he stopped to rest in the grove at Colonus. Colonus was ruled by the Athenians and King Theseus. The compassion of Theseus towards Oedipus allowed him to decease with a spot of self-respect. Destiny can besides be held responsible for the meeting of Eteocles and Polynices on the battleground. The odds of both of them lasting to battle each other in a immense conflict could non hold been to good. If destiny had non played it & # 8217 ; s manus, one of them likely would hold died someplace else on the battleground. Antigone and Ismene seemed to be guiltless victims of the destinies of their male parent and brothers. Neither of them did anything incorrect, yet neither of them had any felicity in their lives. When they were little kids, their female parent hung herself and Oedipus poked his eyes out. Antigone wasted her life taking her blind male parent about, sharing in his wretchedness. Ismene had live with the fact that she was inbred and her household was cursed by the Gods. Eventually Antigone & # 8217 ; s life ended in desperation to. She was separated from her fianc and died as a treasonist to the province. Oedipus and his line of descent were badly fated from the start and ne’er truly had much of a opportunity.