The role of fate in Greek Mythology Research Paper

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The role of fate in Greek mythology
In most Greek myths, fate is a common theme. One or more characters in the myth often have bad fates, and the plot weaves around the fate such that it always came to pass. For example, Oedipus myth detailed how his father wanted to kill him to avoid his fate. Oedipus fate was destined to kill his father and marry his mother, and despite how he and his family tried to avoid it, it came to pass. In the case of Zeus, he would have been eaten by his father, Cronus, to avoid overthrowing him and become the most powerful god but in a fateful turn of events, the inevitable happened. There are many other examples of Greek myths which feature a fate theme, and they seem to assert a few lessons. These lessons meant to serve a purpose for the society. It is on the basis of the above statement that this article is written to help demystify the role of fate in mythology as reminding mankind that he is not in charge, nothing that happens is as a result of his doing, and that some things are meant to be and to happen as they do.
Fateful myths were used to console people of their unwelcome situations and or circumstances. According to CITATION Ste16 \p 129 \l 1033 (Sinclair, 2016, p. 129), myths were used as a ‘comforting internalized fiction.’ In cases of death, the society could draw inspiration on what they did not have control over from lessons in some of these myths. For example, the myth of the three daughters of Nyx, Clotho (the spinner), Lachesis (the allotter) and Atropos (the inflexible) was structured to serve such functions. The people would have an external and often unreachable mythical figure they could ‘blame’ for their misfortunes. The characters above in the three fates (Moirai) myth were known to determine the measure, nature, duration of the suffering of anyone right from their birth. Atropos determined the individual’s death while Lachesis allotted the length of life and Clotho spun the thread of life. Therefore, such myths could be used to offer consolation to the people because their lives had been meant to end that way and there was nothing they could do. These myths served the purpose of heightening the powerlessness of the people in the face of their most trying moments such as death, terminal diseases, disability among others. The heightened powerlessness would make them accept their circumstances rather than fighting. The role of these mythological themes was to psychologically prepare the people to accept the outcome of the common inescapable personal or community issues they face at the time. The myths also had the psychological effect of encouraging the people in the face of adversity. They could reflect on the myths and feel that they had not suffered the worst they could ever possibly suffer. They could draw lessons from mythological characters who had to fulfill their fate, however much they escaped it. They could, therefore, tap into the comforting feeling of finding positivity in their adversity because their situations are not dire compared to the mythological characters. For example, thinking that Oedipus had to kill his father and marry his mother could make a person reconsider their fate and...