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Oedipus Rex Fate Vs Free Will

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The Idea of escaping fate is a great way of looking at this text and I feel you make a good argument of Oedipus as a tragic figure. Fate does seem determined to make Oedipus follow the path laid out for him. As you mention, Oedipus is attempting to resist fate. His destiny being revealed to him, he leaves what he believes to be his father and mother never to see them again in an effort to keep the prophecy from coming true. Unfortunately, this action leads Oedipus directly into alignment with the events that would bring about his murdering his true father and having children with his mother. Once your fate is set there is no way out.
The tragic part of the text is not necessarily his fate, but how it unfolds. He inadvertently propels

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