When determining whether fate or free will determined the outcome of Oedipus' life, we must consider both sides. Some people may say that he brought all his suffering upon himself, but still others may say that it was his destiny for bad things to happen to him. First we will look at destiny. The definition of destiny is a force or power that predetermines events or an inevitable event predestined by force. I believe that Oedipus' fate in life was sealed for him to ultimately be exiled and alone before he was even born. His father, Laius, was told that "he was destined to die at the hands of his son who was to be born to him... as for the son - three days after his birth... Laius had him thrown away into the uncharted mountains." Laius' descendants were cursed because of his actions towards another. Laius did not believe he had a living son or child to complete this tale. So she continued her life without worries, believing that the only child she had brought into the world was missing. Oedipus was this unknown child who didn't even know he was that child. He thought he was someone else's. The forces were at work without any control. Oedipus' questioning of the Delphic Oracle about who his biological parents were after hearing rumors that those who raised him were not his parents led him to be implicated in the foretold fate of his biological father, Laius. . He was informed of his destiny to mate with his mother and shed his father's blood with his own hands. To avoid this prediction of killing his father and mating with his mother, Oedipus attempted to move away although he still did not know that Merope was not his biological mother and Polybus was not his biological father. While... middle of paper... calling out other fortune tellers who don't want to talk about what they know about the assassination of their king. He keeps pushing and then doesn't believe the information he's given because he believes everyone wants to take over this kingdom that he took over so easily. All of these choices are predetermined. Even though Oedipus knew so much but couldn't or didn't try to put things together. He thought he was leaving to protect his parents, Merope and Polybus. This showed how much he cared about them by trying to eliminate the problem, i.e. himself, from the equation. “I was running towards a place where I would never see that shameful prophecy come true (45).” In the end, however, he ran towards the place where the prophecy was destined to be fulfilled. Free will or destiny, this particular story set in motion events that ended in its own fulfillment.