The Greek Concept of Fate and How It Relates to Oedipus in Oedipus the King, Essay Example

I will discuss the Greek concept of fate and how it relates to Oedipus in Oedipus the King. The concept of Greet fate is encumbered around the premise that it is very difficult for man to fight a battle with anger seeded at his existence. Essentially what this means is a man is at his strongest point when he is calm and when he has control over his own feelings. It is at this point that he is able to think clearly and able to conquer almost anything. Greek poems seem to permeate our modern consciousness which is to believe that there is hope and a higher being or God can make all things good in our life. Greeks were not like us however for they believed human beings were powerless and the destiny of a person was left to the will of the Gods and their soul was lifted up to the will of the Gods through fate. The Hellenistic and Roman fates later adopted the same principles of fate as the Greeks did.   “Thus, in Oedipus, his Fate is determined by the anger in his character– against the unknown man old enough to be his father at the place where three roads meet; by his anger against the counsel of Teireisias (and against his own eyes) in Thebes; and by his anger against both his sons at Colonnus.” (Mage, 2006). Fate was part of life in ancient Greek civilization and so was everyday life dependent upon it.

Fate is uncovered in the story because it is not told but unravelled as the story goes on. As the story is unravelled the past is relied upon for the present to be unveiled. It is not necessarily true that all past actions will affect the future thus fate is ever so present as things happen by chance and are not planned. “Oedipus’ parents are told early on in the story of his fate and they are set out to destroy him because of his known fate.” (Mage, 2006). They are afraid of the fate that is in store for their son. Though they are set out to destroy the fate in store for their son their plans to destroy his fate are interrupted by fate itself. As every part of the past affects the present it is ever so a reality that fate is present in all of their lives so much that they cannot deny fates presence.

In this summary I will outline the characteristics of tragedy and identify the specific elements within Hamlet. As Hamlet is exposed to tragedy in his life his decisions and consequences of his decisions become parallel to determining the future outcome of his life. As the play opens Hamlet is angry about the death of his father and angry at all the people in his life because of the death of his father. He learns that his mother has married Uncle Claudius and his mother has married Claudius. He further learns that Uncle Claudius has married his mother Queen Gertrude. He has learned of this tragedy through his father who has appeared to the guards at the palace in Denmark. Hamlet is now Prince Hamlet. People at the castle are afraid that Prince Hamlet has gone mad over the murder of his father. Polonius fears that Hamlets pain is caused by the love for Ophelia but Hamlet thinks he is a foolish man indeed.

Hamlet stages a play to prove Claudius guilt for the murder. Claudius wants to send Prince Hamlet away to England because he becomes quite suspicious of his so called irrational behaviour. Hamlet accidentally stabs Polonius thinking he was hearing his mother crying out for help against the wrath of Claudius. This gives Claudius ample opportunity to send Hamlet away but instead he has Hamlet imprisoned in England. Ophelia drowns and there is much madness again. Hamlet fatally wounds Claudius. Hamlet eventually dies for his cause.

Many critics saw Hamlet’s hesitation to kill his uncle as a plot to perhaps extend the agony and others saw it as an unconscionable act of a mad man. Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most influential tragedies and most long running plays. Hamlet may indeed be mad but it is not about Ophelia for he is mad about the idea his uncle has invaded his mother’s life whist he was away and the vision of his father’s ghost has appeared and stated is uncle was the murderer of his father. He is concerned for his mother’s life and salvation. Polonius get intertwined into the situation and eventually killed by accident because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is in fear for his daughter’s safety because of Hamlets irrational behaviour but needless to say does not realistically know why Hamlet is behaving in such a manner. Hamlet learns the truth that his uncle is the murderer of his father when he abruptly leaves the room during a re-enactment play of the murder. His uncle is full of guilt. This play is full of tragedy and turmoil and keeps the audience is total dismay throughout.

References

Mage, S. (2006) Ibo-talk Greek Concept of Fate Retrieved December 8, 2009 from, http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/2006/2006-October/020804.html

Shakespeare, W. (2009) Hamlet Retrieved December 8, 2009 from, http://www.teachervision.fen.com/curriculum-planning/teaching-methods/3544.html