oedipus- fate and free will

Fate and Freewill "Oedipus the King", written by Sophocles between C.A. 496-405 B.C. is an example of Sophocles' belief that fate controls a man's life despite his capability of free will. Is life decided by fate, in that there is some master plan for our lives? Do we go through life making chance decisions without purpose? If life is pre-determined by fate, are we responsible for our actions? The Greeks believed heavily in …

…proclaims, "Apollo-he ordained my agonies-these, my pains on pains! But the hand that struck my eyes was mine, mine alone-no one else-I did it all myself!" (859) We see Oedipus punish himself for his sins. He cannot bear the thought of looking into his "father in the eyes" when he "goes down to hell", his relationship with his mother, or bear "the sight of his children. Oedipus proclaims, "No, not with these eyes of mine, never. (860)