Frivolous Fate

My big question for the year is: What is the balance between fate and personal choice, are they essentially or eventually the same?Oedipus's character seems to hit largely on this question. From birth a terrible fate rests on his shoulders from which he can not escape. His personal choices only play into his fate. His actions demonstrate that fate may change personal choice, but personal choice is unable to change fate. The harder Oedipus struggles to escape destiny, the sooner it arrives. Teiresius clicks his tongue at Oedipus when he says, "But I say that you, with both your eves, are blind: You can not see the wretchedness of your life..." (399). Despite Teiresius's blindness, he is able to comprehend the undeniable quality of fate. However, Oedipus, with both eyes wide open, seeks to escape the prophecy at all costs which leads to his ensuing downfall.