Fate vs Free Will
... In this play, Oedipus is a great example of Sophocles’ belief that fate will control a man’s life no matter how much free will exists. ... By doing this, he proved that his life was predetermined by fate and there was nothing he could do to change it. ... Oedipus knew that his fate had indeed come to pass and feels cursed by it. ... The true sin is when he attempts to raise himself to the level of the gods by trying to escape his fate. ... Therefore, this last act of gouging out his eyes was the result of Oedipus’ free will and his tragic fate came about because every sin must be punished. ... No matter how much free will Oedipus had in controlling his life, fate had already taken control.