What is the relevance of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex to modern times? What is the relevance of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex to modern times?

Johan Dickens

grapples with the concept of determinism, the philosophy that
"all events, including moral choices," are predetermined by "previously existing
causes" (Britannica.com). It also implicitly supports the theory of the self-fulfilling
prophecy. A prophecy is considered "self-fulfilling" when it comes true only because
it was predicted to.

The conflict centers around the prophecy that 's
parents,and , receive. Hearing that their son will kill his father and marry his mother, the
king and queen send their child away to a far-off kingdom. As things turn out, however, their
very action serves to fulfill the prophecy. Oedipus kills his father on the road, and takes his
mother to wife. Despite Creon and Jocasta's efforts to avert the prediction, it comes
true.

Or, is it because Creon and Jocasta try to avert the
prophecy that it comes true? Would the foretelling have proven true if the couple had left it
alone? If so, perhaps the event was, indeed, predetermined. Perhaps...

href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/determinism">https://www.britannica.com/topic/determinism]]>