Connection #1 (Oedipus)

In the short play “Oedipus” written by Sophocles, Oedipus is burdened at birth with an oracle. His parents, King Laius and Jocasta hear from a prophet that their son will kill his own father (King Laius) and marry his own mother (Jocasta). Upon hearing this horrible prophecy, King Laius orders his son be taken out to the field and killed. The man responsible for taking young Oedipus out into the field and killing him feels pity for the helpless boy, so he gives him to a shepherd to look after, thinking no harm would be done. As Oedipus grows up, he believes that the farmer and the farmer’s wife are his true parents. Oedipus soon hears of the horrible prophecy that was declared on him, and thinking that his true parents were the farmer and his wife, he decides to leave them and head towards Thebes. Along the way to Thebes, Oedipus meets a havoc-causing group of road travelers who refuse to get off the road which would allow Oedipus to pass. A fight ensues and Oedipus ends up killing all but one man who manages to run off. As Oedipus approaches the town of Thebes, he realizes that the town had been cursed by a Sphinx, who has a riddle that must be solved. Oedipus, being a wise man, easily solves the riddle and saves the town. King Laius has not been seen in several days (more on this later), so Thebes makes Oedipus king. Along with his newfound kingship, Oedipus then marries Jocasta (his true mother). Oedipus lives happily for a long time, until finally grief sets in and random intellectuals approach Oedipus about the prophecy. Oedipus soon makes the connection that he did, in fact, kill his father (King Laius) on the road to Thebes and that he did marry and have relations with his biological mother (Jocasta). Realizing that the prophecy had come true, Oedipus gouges out his eyes and banishes himself from the kingdom. The connection to the culminating question.....

My Big Question

Throughout the 2009-10 year of AP Literature, I will be focusing on the following question and applying it to the novels that I have read and will be reading:

"Are we governed/guided by fate, free will, a greater power, or do we fall somewhere on the spectrum between?"