Sophocles', "King Oedipus" demonstrates the bitter struggle of the main protagonist in his quest to uncover the mystery surrounding his birth, which ultimately ends in tragedy. Through the course of events which transpire, it is obvious that Oedipus' actions, to a certain degree, are manipulated by the gods, where Oedipus embarks on a dreadful prophesy which ultimately condemns him to a life solitude and exile. However, it can be argued that it was not fate alone that caused Oedipus to commit his incestuous sin, but rather a culmination of factors which may have been avoidable. His compassion for the people of Thebes, together with his obsession to uncover the truth surrounding his birth, which has tormented him for so long, is a reason for his plight.

The predominant reason for Oedipus committing the sin of killing his father and marrying his mother, is due to fate and the...