Introduction
The concepts of fate and free will have ensued debates among many people and communities for centuries. Some individuals believe in fate, some believe in free will, while others believe that both concepts play a significant role in one’s destiny. Religious groups believe that a supreme god controls one’s life and determines the events from birth to death. Philosophers would argue that one’s lifestyle is a consequence of their actions and choices by free will. Greeks based their belief on fate, an existing supernatural power that predetermines the events of an individual’s life from birth to when they die. Although the two concepts contrast, they play a significant role in one’s life, and the argument that a person’s fate can change through divine or human intervention is debatable even today. Homer’s The Odyssey and Sophocles’ Oedipus the King are examples of Greek epics which show that man may act out of a free will, but all choices and actions lead to predestined fate. This essay compares the different ways the two authors use to portray the power of fate over free will despite human and divine intervention.
Fate vs. Free Will in The Odyssey
In The Odyssey, individuals were responsible for their lives and significantly influenced their existence. Nonetheless, every action led to their predicted fate despite choosing a different path in life. Tiresias foretells Odysseus’ fate which states that he will return home and his wife by fighting off suitors to reclaim his position as King and husband. However long the journey would take. Odysseus was bound to return to Ithaca, and his decisions, whether poor or wise, would lead him back home (Foster 98). King Odysseus faces many challenges throughout his journey from his Trojan war, being captured and staying with the gods for years, and returning to Ithaca. In all circumstances, the King faces hardships and has to make tough choices to get back home.
At the beginning of the epic tale, the gods are responsible for the capture of Odysseus and hold him for years. When they release him, Zeus gives him a choice on whether he wants to leave or stay. Kalypso, the main character behind the capture of Odysseus, tells him, “… you would stay here, and guard this house, and be immortal” Homer in (Puchner et al. 267). Immortality is enticing to every man, particularly those of power, as they get to live forever, ruling and expanding their territories. Consequently, Odysseus had stayed with the gods for a very long time, and one would think he had given up on the notion of going home and accepting immortality. However, Odysseus declines the offer and decides to return home to his family. Although Odysseus’ choices seemed like a personal decision, it was fated that he would return home however long he was away. The gods knew his destiny, and giving him options was a way to delay him further from the ultimate fate.
In The Odyssey, the gods controlled many aspects of life and activities to interfere with one’s fate. However, the interference would only delay the destination, which came to pass however long it took. After the gods release Odysseus, Poseidon tries to harm him by blocking his journey home. In an attempt to avenge the blinding of his son, Polyphemus, Poseidon sends a shipwreck that kills all of Odysseus’ men and destroys the only men of transport from the sea. However, after much hardship, Poseidon changes his mind and helps Odysseus return to Ithaca. Although it seems ironic, fate dictated that Odysseus would return home regardless of the gods or man’s actions. Thus, the poet shows the power of fate that despite any delays, one’s destiny is premeditated and must come to pass.
Throughout the story, the gods in the Odyssey forewarned the people of impending danger so they would choose a better path and avoid the ill fate. The gods try to warn Aegisthus, which gives him the free will to follow the gods’ advice to refrain from killing Agnomen and marrying his wife, Clytemnestra. Here, the gods try to assist man rather than impose their will, leading to dire consequences. However, Aegisthus ignores the gods’ warning leading to his demise (Foster 220). Although it was fate that he would die in the hands of the vengeful Orestes, he decided his fate by dismissing the gods’ directives. On the other hand, Aegisthus’s story explains the power of fate because even the gods knew he would ignore the warning and die. It was fated, so it shall be however much one exercises their free will.
Consequently, the gods knew the ultimate fate but tried to judge human intelligence and wisdom by giving them the free will to direct the events as fit. For instance, the Ithaca suitors’ actions lead to a fateful end because of bad decisions throughout the story. The Ithaca suitors use clumsily and atrocious actions such as violence, murder, and sexual atrocities to gain power in the city. Thus, when Odysseus comes back to reclaim his kingdom, Athena tells him, “Yes, try the suitors……., and learn who are the decent lads, and who are vicious-although not one can be excused from death!” Homer in (Puchner et al. 423). Although the suitor’s death is their fate, brought by the gods as a consequence of their wrongdoings, it was premeditated that Odysseus would return and kill suitors who are after his wife to reclaim the throne and Penelope. Therefore, whether the suitors lived righteous or wicked lives, they would die on Odysseus’ homecoming.
Fate vs. Free Will in Oedipus the King
Similarly, in Oedipus the King, the hero’s fate is sealed by fate despite his actions for redemption. Sophocles hero outlives his excellent reputation and watches as it dissipates to nothingness. Although Oedipus faces challenges bravely and makes wise decisions in life, his fate is sealed due to a lack of free will leading to his legend as a fatal hero. Sophocles’ epic story shows that fate is fixed despite gods or human actions like the Odyssey (Foster 222). Although the characters could have free will, all actions led to their fateful destinations regardless of gods warnings, intervention, or human actions. Before Oedipus was born, it was already known that he would marry his mother after killing King Laius, his father (Mendelsohn 181). From the beginning, Oedipus’ father, king Laius, is cursed by Apollo, the protector of the youth, because of a rape case. Apollo cursed his lineage by stating that bearing a son would lead to his death, and the son would marry his mother (Mendelsohn 111). That meant that king Laius was not allowed to marry or have children since it would fulfill the fated curse.
The King had the free will to choose celibacy or give rise to a generation that would bear the wrath of his curse. Despite himself, Laius marries Jocasta and beds her in a moment of weakness. Although many may argue that the King’s actions were not deliberate, marriage to Jocasta was out of free will, leading to his bedding her. Fate may have played a role, but Jocasta would not give birth to Oedipus and began the tragic tale if Laius had not married (Mendelsohn 223). Nonetheless, the fate of Laius, that his son would be his murders, was already sealed because his attempts to kill the child at birth were futile. The child, Oedipus, survives and kills him unknowingly, showing that one cannot escape fate.
Throughout his life, Oedipus is victimized by fate, but he is the source of his fatal end through free will. Like Odysseus, fate was written, and his actions and choices determined the fulfillment of the fated prophecy. Oedipus’ decision in Thebes is out of free will when he decides to investigate the source of the plague. Like Odysseus, prophets and seers warned the people about the consequence of their actions. He was forewarned about his fate but went ahead to find the root cause of the plague, which was not necessary since plagues were common in ancient times and would pass with time Sophocles in (Puchner et al. 422). However, he sends Creon to investigate, which raises the issue of the curse.
Further, Oedipus disregards the seer’s advice of letting go of the curse and the past, which would lead to terrible consequences. However, king Oedipus does not acknowledge the gods or the seer’s prophecy due to pride and sets out to find the truth (Foster 112). Apart from the gods, his mother, Jocasta, also asks him to let go of his quest to find the truth. Jocasta tells him, “I beg you, do not hunt this out. I beg you if you care for your own life” Sophocles in (Puchner et al. 411). Nevertheless, out of his free will, Oedipus rejects their concerns, leading to his fate. Oedipus’ situation might have turned out differently if he did not pursue the matter. However, since it was fated, it was bound to happen no matter what the gods or humans did to intervene.
Unlike Odysseus, Oedipus accepts his final fate without attempting to change the prophecy. When he finds out the truth of his birth, murdering king Laius and marrying his mother, Oedipus blames it all on fate and accepts punishment for it was premeditated. Accepting fate is contrary to Odysseus’ decision when he is given a chance to return home. Despite living with the gods for so long that he would have accepted it as fate, Odysseus decides to return home to his kingdom and wife (Foster 218). After twenty years, it is uncertain whether the Ithaca kingdom still exists or whether his wife Penelope is alive or remarried. However, Oedipus does not take the chance to see what the future holds after the discovery, which shows he has free will but chooses to accept fate.
Conclusion
Both literary works concern the prediction of a hero’s fate and how that hero reacts to this prediction and brings out his fate. In The Odyssey, Homer’s hero, Odysseus, and other characters do not have a problem with fate as they are given the free will to make responsible choices. The hero’s free will leads to freedom and many victors making him a legend. Throughout the story, King Oedipus is a victim of fate regardless of his actions of doing right to escape the irreversible curse. Although Homer tries to show that man has the free will to make choices that lead to their destination, fate still plays a significant role in one destiny. In both stories, fate determines every individual end, which signifies the power of fate.
Works Cited
Foster, Thomas C. How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines. Harper, an Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, 2017.
Mendelsohn, Daniel Adam. An Odyssey: A Father, a Son, and an Epic. William Collins, 2018.
Puchner, Martin, et al. The Norton Anthology of World Literature (Shorter 4th Ed.). W. W. Norton & Company, 2019.