Throughout the history of the world, divine intervention has been a prevalent matter.  Specifically, many Greek pieces of art and literature the idea of fate is intrinsic.   Socrates’ trilogy of Theban plays is a prime example of these ideals.  In this trilogy there are the Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone.

Before the story of Antigone, there was Oedipus Rex.  Oedipus Rex epitomizes the concept of fate.  From his early birth it was foretold that he would kill his father and marry his mother.  Then he would be the father of his siblings.  Since fate was no laughing matter to the Greeks, Oedipus’s parents decided to kill him to prevent those occasions from ever happening.  Little did they know that Oedipus did not die, and instead his destiny began to unfold.   Unknowingly following the commands of fate, Oedipus kills his father at a crossroad.  He then continues along this predetermined path and marries his mother.  From a baby these events were foretold to happen, and they were unintentionally carried out by Oedipus.  In this respect the Greeks believe, fate is determined from the day one is born and there is no way of stopping it. Oedipus’s parents tried to end his life and his life’s purpose along with it, but they couldn’t stop the doom he was foretold to bring upon himself and them.  In this sense, the Greeks believed that man could not unbend the chains of fate and change the course of life.

            However, Antigone presents a different argument to this idea.  The first implication is the word anti in her name.  Her name suggests that she opposes a belief of the Greeks.  Contrary to the belief that there is a predetermined path for every person, Antigone takes actions into her own hands.  She chooses to go against Creon and bury her traitorous brother.  Enforcing her stance on individuality is the fact that she takes her own life.  She refuses to experience a judgment by another that should’ve been decided by her deeds.  Hanging herself proved that she defied the verdict on her life and she is the sole controller of her life.

            The Greek way of life was centered on fate.  When a person was born he was given a purpose for living and that force would push him through his existence.  However, the Greeks believed in the action of choice, but as an “anti” ideal of their people.  The idea of choice gives light to our individuality, which contrasts with the idea that the gods gave us our life to carry out certain deeds.  If the gods gave us purpose then the beings of our existence isn’t ours.