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Oedipus: King Of Riddles? In Greek mythology the oracles or gods are rarely wrong in their predictions of the future. Yet the characters still try to fight the predictions. Do their personalities and traits decide their future, or does fate take its course no matter what? Oedipus was a shrewd man furnished with wit and intellect, yet his lack of insight (the ability to see and understand clearly the inner nature of himself) and his …

…him from the truth. Oedipus would have solved Tiresias's riddles instantaneously if it weren't for his pride, and lack of insight. Finally, the truth is forced on Oedipus with outstanding evidence, presented by the messenger, and the shepherd, so he must accept his destiny. Was he not able to solve Tiresias's riddles because his arrogance wouldn't allow him to, or did he recognize the answers immediately, his vanity not allowing him to acknowledge the truth?