In Oedipus Rex and Hamlet both have to deal with the reality of fate and/or free will. Was it Hamlet’s destiny that he would become insane and murder the ones he loved? Or was it all dependent on his very own actions and choices that depicted his future? Could Oedipus Rex change the way his future would turn out from his choices or was it fate that entailed him to killing his own father. Those are the main questions for both books.
In ancient Greece fate was very strongly believed in. Fate is defined as something that unavoidably falls upon a person. Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, is old Grecian literature that really makes the reader think about whether there really is such a thing called fate or free will. In Oedipus the King an unfortunate man, named Oedipus, is given a prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Despite Oedipus’s tries to make sure his prophecy does not come true.
Dear Prince, I beg of thee to drop or even minimize the charges towards Romeo Montague. Please do this task I ask you because even though Romeo killed Tybalt, it was out of revenge considering Tybalt was the one that killed. Tybalt also wanted to fight with Romeo, so Tybalt started this whole thing. The two families always hated each other, so it’s not like Romeo did it for no reason. I believe Romeo killed Tybalt because Tybalt was the killer of his best friend Mercutio.
She will be the man here” (519). This quote explains Kreon’s irritation on Antigone. The very moment Antigone buries her be loving brother’s body Kreon wants to take action with killing her because she disobeyed his law also Antigone’s sister, Ismene, because Kreon believes she was part of it too. Kreon believes if he does not kill Antigone he will no longer be one of the best rulers that people will look up too. This quote is important because it explains how Kreon begins to commit hubris.
Another reason why Brutus could be a patriot because he said he no matter what he would die for Rome making it a better place. What makes this statement invalid is that the people of Rome would probably prefer Brutus suffering in prison for the rest of his life facing what he has done like a man, instead of being a coward and killing himself before he was captured. I believe Brutus is a betrayer for the reason he killed not only his closest friend, but Caesar the soon to be mighty leader of Rome. Already killing a friend of yours who trusted you to be at their very side, shows how much of a coward Brutus was. Another thing is the people he decided to collaborate with had a totally different motive of killing Caesar.
In Chinua Achebe’s novel “Things Fall Apart”, the issue of fate over free will lingers over the Umuofia clan. Social status and wealth determine a person’s fate, but with sheer force and hard work, they can change their luck. Okonkwo’s determination to succeed collides with his fate, ending his life by committing suicide. Through the novel, we find that Achebe’s characters determine whether fate or free will play a great role in our own future. Okonkwo’s fate is determined through his own free will of actions.
His plan even comes to Clarence in a dream and he still cannot see that Richard is the one who is behind him being in prison and for his death that is coming very soon. He blames his self for the deaths of his father in law and brother and believes that the dream is the evidence of his sins. “Ah, keeper, keeper, I have done these things that now give evidence against my soul for Edward’s sake, and see how he requites me! O God! If my deep pray’rs cannot appease thee, but thou wilt be avenged on my misdeeds, yet execute thy wrath in me alone.
Hamlet: Justice or Revenge In the era portrayed in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, justice is mostly carried out by oneself and not the court of law, and it is a thing of honor to avenge the death of a loved one. However, Hamlet’s quest for justice over his father’s murder does at some point turn into personal revenge, as he wants to have vengeance on his uncle in ways that become more personal. Hamlet loses track of the main reason for wanting his uncle dead and hatred grows for Claudius, his uncle, such that he wants to make sure that Claudius does not go to heaven when he dies. His uncontrollable emotions show when he kills Polonius and does not care about his actions. Hamlet even seems to have forgotten the main reason why he is avenging his father’s death.
If this was but a cruel illusion created by the tortured spirits of the damned to like them damn myself in a full blown assault on mine mothers husbands brother.. I most find out if this is spirit speaks the truth, an to do this I most see the true greed of my uncle. Act 2 scene 2 1822 December 8th In the theatre I well add a few lines which well show the true purpose of my fathers sudden death and my uncles fast
This only happens if we choose for it to happen. He gives us the choice to walk by his side or keep a distance which you should not want. It is the choice of whether or not you want your life to be all about you or about you and God. A form of ethos that this song shows is God wants us to to stand up for what we believe in, no matter what it is. That is probably one of the biggest reasons he gives us free will.The reason that we believe this is because he is God Almighty, creator of heavens and the earth.