Free Will And Redemption In The Kite Runner And Oedipus Rex

The themes of The Kite Runner and Oedipus Rex are free will and redemption. The author of each book shows how redemption is a major aspect in both stories by leading up to what each character did of their free will and showing the significance of how vile their mistakes were. Although the two authors thought the way to redemption was pain, the pain was very different in each book. In Oedipus rex, Oedipus took responsibility immediately and thought his redemption could only be fulfilled by exile and piercing his eyes so he could no longer see. Amir in The Kite Runner later took responsibility for his actions, he always felt guilt, never did he think he would find redemption but later he did. Amir met face to face with Assef the barbarian†¦show more content†¦Then I knocked on Baba’s door and told what I hoped would be the last in a long line of shameful lies.† (The Kite Runner page 104). Amir chose to try and get Hassan kicked out because he couldn’t bare the guilt he felt when he looked at him. Oedipus justifies my thesis of free will in Oedipus Rex when he causes his father’s death because of an altercation they had on the road. â€Å"And to you, lady, I shall speak the truth. When traveling near that very triple road, a herald and a man riding there in a chariot, like the man you described, encountered me. Both the one in front and the old man himself drove me from the road with force. In my anger I struck the driver, turning me off the road, and the old man, when he saw, watched me as I passed the chariot and struck me on the head with the two-pronged goad. But he more than paid for it and soon was struck by the scepter from his very hand, lying on his back, at once thrown out of the car. I killed them all.† (Oedipus rex page 38-39). Oedipus had no knowledge that the man he had killed was his father but that does not change the fact that they died at his hand. Not only did Oedipus killed his father he wedded and slept with his mother, which in any society w e see as wrong. â€Å"O marriage, marriage, you brought me forth, and afterwards again you harvested the same seed and revealed father-brothers, children of kin blood, brides who were wives and mothers, and all else counted the most shameful acts by men.† (OedipusShow MoreRelatedSimilarities Between Oedipus Rex And The Kite Runner1391 Words   |  6 Pagesor destiny is present? Oedipus Rex and The Kite Runner are both profound works of literature that share two immensely universal themes, those themes being fate/free will and divine justice. These two themes are quite prominent throughout both pieces of writing and serve to facilitate a very humanistic connection between the audience and the story. Although both of these stories consist of the two themes mentioned, they each express them in a unique fashion. Oedipus Rex focuses more so on the conceptRead MoreOedipus Rex And The Kite Runner1367 Words   |  6 PagesOedipus Rex and The Kite Runner are both profound works of literature that share two immensely universal themes, those themes being fate and freewill and divine justice. These two themes are quite prominent throughout both pieces of writing and serve to facilitate a very human connection between the audience and the story. Although both of these stories consist of the two themes mentioned, they each express them in a unique fashion. Oedipus Re x focuses more so on the concept of fate whereas The