Classics - greek tragedy homework help!!!

‘In Oedipus the King, Oedipus suffers because of a fate he cannot avoid rather than because of any errors he has committed.’ How far do you think this is true? (20 marks)

Oedipus could possibly have avoided his fate. If he hadn't tried to discover whether the guest's taunts at the Corinthian dinner party were correct, or to avert his fate after visiting Delphi, he probably wouldn't have suffered. In both cases what could be seen as flaws in his personality led him to his downfall - in the first instance, his over-inquisitiveness and in the second, his confidence in escaping the predictions made by Apollo.

You could argue that he made the error of killing a man on the crossroads - knowing that he had been prophecied to kill his father, and that a guest had doubted that polybus and merope were his parents, he should perhaps have put two and two together and avoided killing any man without reason just in case.

He has free will to discover the truth as regards his parentage. He does this with great zeal despite warnings from Jocasta etc. Had he stayed in the dark knowledge wise, he would not suffered. So this is another error of sorts that make him responsible.

However you could argue that his fate is determined and nothing can stop the gods from letting events run their course especially once the unwritten laws are transgressed. Man cannot reckon with god and should know his place before trying to escape a divinely ordained fate!

Hope this helps you out, good luck!