Introduction
The story of Oedipus raises several philosophical questions throughout the narrative and makes readers think about some aspects of life. However, the central issue of “Oedipus, the King” is the conflict between fate and the consequences of human choices. The main character is terrified of the predicted future and strives to change the outcome and recognize whether they can even be reversed. Therefore, the paper aims to analyze “Oedipus, the King” and identify the critical problem of the story.
Analysis of “Oedipus, the King”
The tragedy of the “Oedipus, the King” is that Oedipus desperately tried to avoid the prophecy’s predictions, but he still did not succeed. Although, in the end, he murdered his father and started a romantic relationship with his mother as was presaged, it is hard to blame it all on the certainty of faith (Gardner, Janet, et al.). The reason why Oedipus had to deal with those consequences is the choices and decisions that he made. Although it is easy to justify those actions as already determined results, the main character takes responsibility and admits his fault for what happened (Gardner, Janet, et al.). The story perfectly demonstrates how the person can be tempted to take accountable someone or something else besides them and use the concept of fate as an excuse for indecent behavior. However, if the individual decides to admit the fact that there is their contribution to the outcomes, then there is a possibility for further personal growth and development.
Conclusion
Overall, the “Oedipus, the King” teaches a valuable lesson about awareness and maturity, which allow the main character to recognize his amount of responsibility for the unpleasable events. While it is easier to find excuses for the negative situations in life, it is impossible always to blame fate for everything, good or bad. The central moral of the story is that the person’s actions determine the future and not otherwise.
Work Cited
Gardner, Janet, et al. “Oedipus, the King”. Literature: Portable Anthology 5th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2020, p. 831.