What part does Fate play in Oedipus Rex?

'Fate rules supreme in the tragedy of King Oedipus Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.
Or,
Fate and character conspire to bring about tragedy in King Oedipus.-Discuss.

Ans. The concept of determinism or fate is a common theme I the workings of Greek literature, especially in tragedies. King Oedipus by Sophocles is an example of such a tragedy in which fat rules supreme and the attempt made to avoid it is the cause of tragic downfall of infamous Oedipus, the hero of the play. Fate plays a significant role in Oedipus' life. Even at his birth it
cast spell on him. The Oracle told King Laius and Queen Jocasta, Oedipus's parents, that the child would shed blood of his father and marry his mother. To avoid this ominous decree Laius and Jocasta abandoned the infant to be killed. But fate came in the guise of a shepherd who rescued the child and gave it to Polybus, the heirless king of Corinth. Oedipus grew up manhood in the house of Polybus as his son.Then fate again struck and in this time with the prediction that Sophocles : Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother. Like Laius, Oedipus was also frightened of such a terrible fate and thus determined to leave the country forever to defy the prophesy. On his way he met a man-and engaged in hot argument. In fury, he killed him not knowing that that man was indeed his real father, Laius. Thus, fate brought him to that place and half of the prophesy was fulfilled. When Oedipus arrived in Thebes, the city was littered by Sphinx and her riddle. But Oedipus outdid the monster, killed it and became the deliverer of the city. He was made king and he married the recent widowed Queen Jocasta, his rea. mother. Thus, fate triumphed over human effort defying it..Sophocles begins his play King Oedipus when Thebes, ruled by Oedipus, is afflicted with a plague. Jedipus immediately starts his inquiry to find out the cause of the plague and the deliverance from it. But-it is the irony of fate that he discovers himself as the "unclean thing", the "cursed polluter", guilty of both patricide and incest. At
length he is doomed by his inexorable fate. However, some critics think that fate is not the only one responsible for Oedipus' tragedy. In some extent, Oedipus himself is accountable for his suffering. His flaws  stubbornness, bad temper, pride – lead him to his destiny. Thus it can be concluded that though fate plays a predominant role in the life of Oedipus, it takes the hand of Oedipus himself to dig his doom. As C. M. Bowra says, "The hand that works the destruction is of Oedipus but the power behind the action is Apollo.