The classic stories of Oedipus the King and Sundiata tell the story of two epic heroes who must seek and fulfill their own unique destinies. Although the themes of fate and destiny play an important role in the lives of Oedipus and Sundiata, both characters adapt very differently to their predetermined positions: Oedipus is the tragic hero, always trying to defy fate, while Sundiata He willingly accepts his fate. Both men are qualified to be powerful leaders but use these qualities in different, sometimes opposite, ways. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In the opening scene of the play Oedipus the King, the audience is introduced to Oedipus as a compassionate and concerned leader: he is a man of his word and a man of action. His people suffer from a plague that has struck the country and Oedipus suffers with them. He will stop at nothing to save them from this curse. Paradoxically, while saving his people, Oedipus destroys himself. When Oedipus is told by Delphi - Apollo, the oracle of the prophet, the only way to stop the plague is to find the man who killed Laius, the former king, the audience sees a new side of Oedipus: his imperfections and defects. Despite his intelligence, he acts stupidly, impulsively and impatiently. With much arrogance and aggression Oedipus sets out to find the murderer, but instead his search reveals the truth about himself. The journey towards self-knowledge is not pleasant for Oedipus, who discovers that he has been cursed by the gods. In his search for the truth, Oedipus shows himself to be a thinker. Thus Oedipus' intelligence, a characteristic that brings him closer to the gods, is what drives him to commit the most atrocious of all possible sins. Instead of relying on the gods, Oedipus relies on his own ability to eradicate the truth. He is shocked to learn that it was he who killed Laius, his father, and married Jocasta, his mother, even though these actions were prophesied long ago by the oracle of Delphi. After hearing the oracle's prophecy, Oedipus is still foolish enough to believe he can defy fate and change the path chosen for him by the gods. He says to Jocasta: "I heard all this and I ran, I abandoned Corinth, from that day I judged its landing only by the stars, running, always, running towards a place where I would never see the shame of all these oracles come true" (205). The contrast between trust in the oracles of the gods and trust in intelligence manifests itself in this story much like that between religion and science in modern times. In Sundiata's story, even before his birth, the Lion King is destined to become a great leader. , in contempt of traditional order and birthright. His role as king and his victorious return to his homeland of Mali are all controlled by the effects of fate in his life. A traveler prophesied that the powerful heir to the throne would be born of a foreign and ugly woman. The stories of greatness impressed the king of Mali enough to trust the prediction and marry Sogolon, the buffalo woman. After the birth of Sundiata, the enormous obstacles were not enough to stop his continued journey towards the throne. Being paralyzed in a society where physical abilities are highly valued is perhaps the greatest possible curse. Learning to walk, in spite of others in the palace, is only a small achievement compared to the milestones Sundiata would surpass in his life. Unlike Oedipus, Sundiata accepts with pride and willingness the path paved for him by the gods. Sundiata is courageously determined to seek and fulfill her destiny, while Oedipus searches. ,.