greek-+Fate+and+Free+Will

Fate vs. Free Will

By Wally, Carley, Autumn

Fate vs. Free Will is a common topic throughout almost all societies since the beginning of time. The greeks had a strong belief in fate and it is shown in many of there literature such as in a Mythology book, and Antigone. Here are the definitions of Fate and Free Will:

Fate- something that unavoidably befalls a person; fortune

Free Will- free and independent choice; voluntary decision

In a chapter of the mythology book called The Quest for the golden fleece, a man named jason looses a sandal, he comes across Pelias, who is told by an oracle that a man with one sandal will kill him. Pelias believes in fate causing him to send Jason on a Quest for a Golden Fleece, but Pelias cannot outwit the oracles and gods, so he is killed by Jason

In another chapter of the Mythology book, called Perseus, the greek belief in fate is shown again. King Acrisius is told that he will be killed by his grandson. He believes this prophecy so he locks up his daughter, Danae. Zues magically enters the prison, impregnates her and Acrisius sends her to sea with the son Perseus. Eventually in a disc-throwing contest Pereseus fulfills the prophecy and kills his grandfather King Acrisius.

Fate is relevant in the Greek Society in the play Antigone. Throughout the play Antigone stands strong against her Uncle and King, Creon. Creon sets a decree, she defies it and is put to death for her defiance. Creon's son Haemon is betrothed to Antigone and he is despaired at the news of his bride. King Creon gest a visit from a prophet awhich tells him he's seen Creon's future, so king creon tries to fix but it is only too late. He has a fate of living a lonely and somber life. Antigone hangs herself causing Haemon to kill himself causing his mother, Eurydice to kill herself. The fate of Creon is to live by himself in his arrogant decisions.

In the Trojan war and the fall of troy chapter of mythology the greek belief in fate is shown again. Achilles's mother is told that Achilles is fated to die in the trojan war. Achilles decides to fight anyway and kills Hector, but he is shot by Paris in his heel. Achilles is thought to be invincible because he is dunked in the mystical river styx by Thetis, but his heel was never dipped because that is how she held him. His prophecy is fufilled as predicted like many other greeks.

In a final example in a chapter called the Royal House of thebes, the oracle at delphi tells king laius that his son will one day kill him and marry his wife. Oedipus laius son is tied up on mountain to die. Oedipus finally finds his dad on a highway but they do not know they are related. He kills him on the highway and thebes annoints him as the king and he marries his mother the queen. Once again someone in the country of greece tries to avoid there fate, but they cannot outsmart the gods.