Oedipus jornal #4

"why scan the birds that scream above our heads?"(Oedipus the king 1055-1056) throughout the play, there is a repeating metaphor for prophesies. the same word usage is used through the play, there are birds circling in the sky, and the metaphor is always referenced after talk of prophesies or things concerning the future. the this connects back to the atmosphere of conflicting ideas of man controlling his destiny, and man not being in control of his destiny. birds can serve as an indicator of changing seasons(migratory) or impending doom, which means that they are prophesy. questioning these impending prophesies makes it seem like the people are not in control of there destiny, so why be worried about it? the idea is referenced earlyer in the play, "the skilled prophet scans the birds and shatters me with terror!"(Oedipus the king 550). the foreseeing prophet brings fear to the people because he scans the sky for the birds, or looks for prophesies. since the chorus basically represents the people, this displays how heavy an influence a profit is on the people. they are reliant on what he and the gods say about there Oedipus's destiny which contributes to the idea that man is not in control of his destiny since the people are so reliant on what there destiny is foretold to be.