When Taking Fate Into Your Own Hands Goes Wrong...Awkward

A lot of what is written within Greek mythology centers around issues of "what is written" or fulfilling a sort of "prophecy". In many stories protagonists wish to achieve their prophecy or overrule it. In the case of Oedipus while trying to run away from his prophecy, he ultimately fulfills it. Oh, the irony. While running away from his adoptive father, in order to refrain from killing him and fulfilling the prophecy, Oedipus runs into his biological father and kills him instead. He then goes on to marry his mother, consequently and unknowingly fulfilling the prophecy he tried so hard to escape. Oedipus' actions bring turmoil on the town he is now presiding over. A major theme within Greek mythology is the unresolved issues with religious or supernatural elements taking a toll on the reality of the town they are present in. This is true of the Oedipus story. Due to the murder of Laius remaining a mystery, his kingdom is suffering. The priest states in the 30th line to the 33rd, " a deadly pestilence, is on our town, strikes us and speaks us not, and the house of Cadmus is emptied of its people while Black Death grows rich in groaning and in lamentation." He is describing the current state of the town and Creon returns to tell Oedipus that the only way that the plague on the kingdom can be uplifted is if he finds Laius' killer and kill or exile him, not knowing that Oedipus is the one responsible.