The tragedy Oedipus The King , by Sophocles, is one of the most complex classical tragedies because of the variety of themes presented in it. However, most of the critics state that the dominant theme in Oedipus The King is: "no human being can escape his/her fate". Discuss and justify this statement in relation to the character of Oedipus. Oedipus is truly the figure of the tragic hero as he fits all the requirements to …showed first 75 words of 825 total…

…showed last 75 words of 825 total…death, except for some strange doom. My fate must take the course it will. " p 71 ( 1455 - 1457) "Oedipus ( sings) It was Apollo, friends, Apollo He decreed that I should suffer what I suffer, But the hand that struck, alas ! was my own, And not another's. " p 69 ( 1329 - 1332) Considering these lines in a symbolic way , we can assume that Oedipus is conscious that the gods were responsible for his tragedy but he himself also contributed to it.