What is worth fighting for?

CHOOSE YOUR PATH

Fate vs. Free Will

By Priya Kikani

THEMES

Throughout the novel, Oedipus’s struggles to avoid his fate eventually lead to him fulfilling the prophecy.

Oedipus was condemned to this path of destruction.

Are our lives governed by fate? Can we truly make our own decisions? Or are our futures set in stone?

How To Play

Each half of the room is a “player”

Player 1: Fate Player 2: Free Will

Each side makes choices that determines the outcome

How To WIN

Player 1 (fate): Oedipus fulfills the prophecy by murdering his father and marrying his mother

Player 2 (free will): Oedipus lives happily with full knowledge of who his family is, so he does not fulfill the prophecy.

NOTE: Both sides will lose if Oedipus dies

Free will goes first…

VS.

Fate Free Will

Tiresias has told you that your newborn son will murder your husband and marry you. What do you do?

You are Jocasta:

Free Will:

Give Oedipus to the shepherd to kill him before he becomes a threat

Keep Oedipus. After all, he’s just a baby boy!

Jocasta has kept Oedipus, and you were appointed his teacher. Do you tell him of the prophecy to warn him?

You are Tiresias:

Fate:

Tell Oedipus to put him on his guard so he doesn’t do anything rash.

Don’t tell him. You don’t want to scare Oedipus.

Your Queen has told you to murder this baby boy. You are unsure of what to do: You decide to…

You are The Shepherd

Fate:

Follow orders and leave him on a mountaintop to die.

The gods hate people who kill children. You take him and raise Oedipus as your own.

GAME OVER! FATE WINS!Oedipus, left on a mountaintop to die, was rescued. He was raised the man he thought to be his father, Polybus, and flees his “family” to escape the prophecy. On the road to Thebes, the prideful man meets a caravan. Both refuse to yield. We all know how the story goes…

Though you were born a lowly shepherd, you want more from life. How do you satisfy your ambition?

You are Oedipus

Free Will:

Form a plot to assassinate Laius, the current monarch.

Challenge the Gods! Try to beat up Apollo

You unearth a plot to assassinate your King. You know Oedipus, the shepherd’s boy, is behind this blasphemy. What do you do?

You are Creon

Fate:

Be a loyal citizen of Thebes and tell Laius.

Don’t tell Laius. He smells bad anyways.

FATE WINS!!Laius is unsuccessful in preventing his assassination. He dies. Oedipus marries Jocasta. The prophecy is fulfilled.

Prophecy

You fear the prophecy. Though your son is thriving, he is destined to kill you. All you want is a Father’s Day Card. What do you do?

You are Laius

Free Will:

Tough love. Kill Oedipus to protect yourself.

Send Oedipus to Cornith to rule because Polybus is dead.

GAME OVER!! Oedipus had an “accident.” He jumped, fell, or was pushed off a cliff. He will haunt Thebes forevermore. Neither side wins.

IT DIDN’T WORK.NEITHER SIDE

WINS!!Gods know how to fight. Oedipus dies.

Your teacher has told you that you will be a murderer and a mother-marryer. What action do you take?

You are Oedipus

Free Will:

Curse the Gods! Damn Apollo to Hades for the prophecy he created

Don’t give Tiresias a Happy-Teacher Day Card

GAME OVER! FREE WILL WINS!

Upon realizing the true nature of the prophecy, Oedipus has fled

Thebes and now works at McGreeks in Athens. He is happy and away from the confinement

of fate.

<<Oedipus in Athens

You hear of Laius’s vain attempt to defy fate by sending Oedipus to Cornith. You must uphold your prophecy. You:

You are Apollo

Fate:

Make Oedipus a God with you. After all, he has defeated you.

Unleash a rain of fire on Cornith. Oedipus can’t go there if it doesn’t exist.

Neither side wins.

GAME OVER! THE BURNING PRECIPITATION KILLED OEDIPUS.

Oedipus becomes the Greek God of fate and names that start with a vowel. As a

God and Apollo’s new archery buddy, the once star-crossed king realizes the prophecy but doesn’t fulfill it. He lives happily ever after, often partying with

Dionysius.

FREE WILL WINS!