One question asked me what the theme of The Legend of Oedipus
I said free will and fate part B is asking for a quote the choices are
A. “Many years later, Oedipus is told by a drunk that Polybus is not his real father
but when he asks his parents, they deny it.” (Paragraph 5)
B. “They fight over who has the right to go first and Oedipus kills Laius in self
defense, unwittingly fulfilling part of the prophecy.” (Paragraph 6)
C. “Oedipus was the first to answer the riddle correctly. Having heard Oedipus’
answer, the Sphinx is astounded and inexplicably kills itself, freeing Thebes.”
(Paragraph 7)
D. “He is exiled from Thebes and spends the remainder of his life wandering the
desert.” (Paragraph 9)
I believe it is either B or D
https://www.commonlit.org/en/texts/the-legend-of-oedipus
Scroll down and read the last paragraph, the one with [10] in front of it. Then re-think everything.
So are you insisting that it is D since it is talking about how he wandered the desert because of free will and it was fate that he ended this way?
I don't know what your assignment is; therefore, I am sure I have not read the work that these paragraph references are for. According to the ancient play by Sophocles …
~~ B is correct about the actions in the story/legend, and the reasoning behind the theme you have chosen.
~~ D is correct about how the legend ends, but indicates only the result of "fate" and nothing about "free will."
When you post questions like this, you'll always get better responses if you give the entire title of what you read, plus the name of the author.
Good to know it is the Legend of Oedipus by Commonlit Staff
To determine the theme of The Legend of Oedipus, we need to analyze the choices provided and consider the central ideas and conflicts portrayed in the story.
Option B, "They fight over who has the right to go first and Oedipus kills Laius in self-defense, unwittingly fulfilling part of the prophecy," highlights the element of fate. It showcases how Oedipus unknowingly fulfills the prophecy of killing his own father, Laius, despite his attempt to defend himself.
Option D, "He is exiled from Thebes and spends the remainder of his life wandering the desert," emphasizes the element of free will. Oedipus' actions and choices have consequences, leading to his banishment from Thebes and his subsequent life wandering in exile.
Considering the two options and the overall themes of free will and fate in The Legend of Oedipus, option D seems to align more closely with the concept of free will. Oedipus' exile results from his own decisions and actions, reflecting the consequences of exercising his free will.
Therefore, the quote that best represents the theme of free will in The Legend of Oedipus is:
D. "He is exiled from Thebes and spends the remainder of his life wandering the desert." (Paragraph 9)