The Significance of Fate and destiny in Two Novels essays

The Significance of Fate and destiny in Two Novels essays Topic: The significance of fate and destiny in the outcome of the main characters in Oedipus and Fathers and Sons Fate and destiny possess enormous importance in the outcome and change of the traits of all characters in a novel, especially the main characters. Sophocles and Ivan Turgenev novels both stress a lot on the significance of fate and destiny, increasing the degree of intrigue in the plot. In Sophocles Oedipus Rex and Turgenevs Fathers and Sons the theme of fate and destiny is very evident and contributes a great deal to the outcome of the main characters. In Sophocles Oedipus Rex, the main character, Oedipus, the king of Thebes, an excessively proud man, who continuously tries to escape the destiny and the fate that has been set for him. Throughout the novel there is constant foreshadowing about what would become of him and what events should occur throughout his life. Teirasias, a blind prophet, and Delphi, a fortune teller, both tell him that he will kill his father and marry his mother. In both cases Oedipus refuses to accept is in denial of his true life. Another event that shows foreshadowing of Oedipus life is when a drunken man calls him a bastard. There are also elements of irony in this play. When there is a plague on Thebes, Oedipus insisted on finding out what caused this. He later finds out that the murderer of king Laius, his real father, must be found in order to end this plague. This leads Oedipus to pledge to find this murderer and send that person to exile, even if it is someone close to him. This incident portrays the irony used by Sophocles; for the murderer is in reality Oedipus himself. Another use of irony is when Oedipus calls Teirasias a blind fool. Oedipus is metaphorically blind, even though his eyes can see. Even after all the prophecies and incidents, he refuses to acknowledge the fact that he is the murderer of his father Laius, and the husband of his own mothe...