Oedipus Rex and The Consequences of Truth

So, picture this: it's 13th June 2020, and I'm sitting there, reading this ancient play called "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles. Bored and my right hand on my chin, I started thinking about some deep stuff – free will, fate, and the pursuit of truth. I couldn't keep these thoughts to myself, so I did what any self-respecting person would do these days: I shared it all on Facebook. Duh! Mark Zuckerberg and his magical algorithms thought it was a good idea to remind me of it today. Thanks, Zuck!

So, in that moment of contemplation, I asked myself, "Do we really have a choice in life, or are we just puppets in some cosmic puppet show?" And hey, do our inherent qualities steer us towards certain life paths? Like what that wise and old turtle Oogway said in Kung Fu Panda: one often meets their destiny on the road they take to avoid it. Talk about ironic, right? It's like fate has a twisted sense of humor which leads many of us right down the path we are so desperately trying to avoid. And this is evident in our career choices, relationships, personal growth – the whole shebang!

Let's face it, seeking the truth is a noble quest but it is also as scary as heck. Ignorance is blissful as what you don't know - as it is commonly claimed - can not kill you. The pursuit of truth can be downright scary. Take Oedipus in the play called Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, for example. While this dude was on a mission to save his people from a plague, little did he know that he was also inadvertently digging his own grave. The poor guy became his own judge, jury, and executioner.

Anyway, everyone around him tried to put him off from his quest and they were like, "Hey, Mr. Oedipus, maybe it's better to leave the past in the past, you know?" They understood that the revelation of his identity would bring immense suffering. King Polybus, the Oracle, Creon, Tiresias, Queen Jocasta – they all tried to talk some sense into him. But nope, Oedipus was a man on a mission, stubborn like a Bemba person from Chinsali and blinded by his obsession to uncover the truth. And boy, did he pay the price, both metaphorically and literally. Talk about a cautionary tale!

In the end, "Oedipus Rex" reminds us that life is like a wild ride at the back of Mitsubishi Canter Truck on the Livingstone - Sesheke Road with giant G. Rutherford billboards everywhere saying “DON'T MESS WITH FATE!”. The play encourages us to reflect upon the existence of free will, the influence of fate, and the ramifications of seeking knowledge. It accentuates the intricacies and contradictions inherent in the human condition, serving as a reminder that the pursuit of truth can, at times, bring about our own downfall. Life and living are a balancing act between free will and fate, and the pursuit of knowledge can sometimes come back to bite. So, let's reflect on our choices, ponder the mysteries of the universe, but remember that seeking truth might just lead us down a rabbit hole we never expected. But hey, isn't that what makes life all so gloriously messy? Then stay curious, folks!