Fate vs. Free Will Sophocles' three Theban Plays are arranged in a manner that from the beginning, the audience is aware of the outcome and of Oedipus' fate. Oedipus learns that he is fated to kill his father and marry his mother. In trying to avoid his fate, he flees his land to construct a different life. Oedipus believes that he has thwarted his fate but the audience knows otherwise. The audience understands why Oedipus …showed first 75 words of 460 total…

…showed last 75 words of 460 total…nothing to merit such a fate. However, he does not know enough about his fate to clearly recognize what it has in store for him. The vision of life is mysterious and random. Even the best of men, who strives to live the best life possible, falls victim to their cruel fate. Although Oedipus exercises free control over his life, fate has not established a reasonable covenant with any clear rules or a happier future.