Who is innocent all his life only to feel guilty at the end? Is there a force greater than life that controls a human being from birth to death? What if someone so confident in their position in life found a truth to be a lie? The story of Oedipus Rex tells of a doomed heir of Thebes who is predicted to kill his father and marry his mother. The oracle that predicts his future is indeed right, even if it seems naive at first. Guilt eventually manifests itself, innocence and unknown identity being the cause of Oedipus' destruction. Sophocles creatively demonstrates the themes of human will versus fate, the nature of innocence and guilt, and the quest for identity in his play Oedipus Rex. In Oedipus Rex, Sophocles uses philosophical meaning to describe the theme of human will versus fate. Choragos explains to Oedipus that he does not know who the murderer of King Laius, the former king of Thebes, is. Choragos asks the oracle if he can tell him where to find the murderer. Oedipus responds by saying: "But no man in the world can force the gods to do more than they want" (Sophocles, Oedipus Rex.1.1.267-268), from which we can deduce that the Greek gods, that The characters of Oedipus Rex believe, have a great influence in the daily life of the Greeks. Oedipus states that the Greek gods have the power to do whatever they please and cannot grant a wish if asked. Later, Oedipus meets Tiresias, a blind soothsayer who tells Oedipus that Oedipus himself is the murderer of King Laius. Oedipus does not believe Teiresias and hints to him that he cannot harm him. When Teiresias replies: “It is true: it is not from me that your fate will come. This is within the purview of Apollo, for it is his concern” (Sophocles...... middle of paper ....... The quest for identity shines through throughout the story as the audience sees Oedipus's life unfolds before him, and his own quest and thoughtful questions reveal that he is trying to understand the true story of his own life. The human will versus destiny, the nature of innocence and life. guilt, and the quest for identity are all themes that Sophocles exquisitely incorporates in his play, Oedipus Rex The human will is within everyone, but when a stronger force is present, a person's destiny comes. from a source greater than life. Innocence may be predominant in everyone, but guilt only comes to those who seek punishment for what they do. that person's identity makes them who they truly are. Each person's destiny determines their innocence, which determines their guilt through a journey to find their identity...