Oedipus as a victim of destinyI firmly believe that Oedipus is a victim of destiny. By trying to avoid the oracle that predicted his life, he was at the same time fulfilling his destiny. It was fate that led his father to Delphi to discover the fate of his Oedipus. Furthermore, it was fate that led Laius and Jocasta to make the decision to kill their son. Oedipus' fate was that the shepherd would not kill him. Fate also made him leave Corinth, when he was trying to avoid killing his father and marrying his mother. Destiny that made him meet Laius on a narrow path. (How did Laius leave the city, when the sphinx did not allow anyone to enter or leave?) Oedipus and Laius would never have fought if they had not met at the narrow passage. It was fate that Oedipus was able to solve the riddle of the Sphinx. Oedipus was also destined for arrogance or pride. His pride forced him to kill his father because he refused to pay a toll or give way to another. Oedipus' pride prevents him from seeing the truth. Oedipus is blinded by his pride and cannot accept that he cannot avoid his fate. The irony is that the only time Oedipus is not blinded by his pride is when he blinds himself physically. If Oedipus had not been very proud, he would have listened to Creon and understood the truth in Teiresias. When Oedipus reaches Colonus he realizes that he is not responsible for his fate. His destiny and pride are the factors involved in where he feels he should die and be buried. He was told the fate that he would rest on the sacred land of Eumenides. Oedipus has his daughters perform rites when the townspeople tell him he must perform them for violating holy land. He never apologizes for his transgression, but rather sees himself as having the knowledge of the gods beyond that of the citizens due to his pride. Oedipus' pride makes him feel that his sons should have tried to stop his exile, so he refuses to be buried by Thebes and give the city the strength and protection, the blessing that the gods placed on his body. It is also his pride that prevents him from speaking to his son Polyneices when he arrives in Athens.