As my students know, we've been studying the complexities of destiny and freewill in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. It's a struggle trying to wrap human comprehension around the existence of each universal concept and the possible coexistence of both operating in life. Who is at fault for such tragic endings?
After I paused and pondered further, I crystallized a clearer picture in my own understanding. It springs from the meaning of the word fault. It's an old word coming from the 13th century Middle English word, faute.
When we think of his or her faults or finding fault, we're in a place of blaming someone for a shortcoming, limitation, or failing. Think of fault like a coin. It has two sides.
On one side, I believe, is the spending of precious time trying to find another's faults. We often blame someone of wrongdoing or misdeed too easily, too quickly. People who have a habit of finding fault in others usually are people who cannot hold a mirror up to their own self and look deeply at their own imperfections. Not only do they not examine their own reflective visage but they will not even acknowledge that they could have made mistakes or be in the wrong.
For Oedipus, this was a lesson that took awhile to learn. Even though being born of parents who tried to outsmart their own destinies was not his fault, his choices were. He blamed everyone - Tireseus, Creon, and even the gods for being responsible for his lack of understanding and insight in taking care of the matter at hand: capturing the criminal culprit. In thinking he was searching for the truth, he was instead accusing others for his own blindness when it came to his own accountability for the miserable state he was in. Under the umbrella of free will, Oedipus' path toward tragedy was inevitable.
The flip side, however, applies to Oedipus as well which makes him, in part, a tragic hero. When the truth was fully revealed, he accepted the fault for his life as his own. He 'owned' it. He didn't try to hide or not take responsibility for his own actions. At the end, he held himself accountable for his failures and transgressions. With the light of truth, he looked into the mirror of the many decisions he made in his life and instead of denying his responsibility, he embraced the consequences for his imperfect judgment.
We all are at fault for coming short of the mark at times. When we are, it is best to swallow our pride and look and see the truth of what is truly in front of us. We must be aware, we must acknowledge, and admit being at fault...then, perhaps, the most virtuous thing we can do is say...we're sorry. This is what can redeem. This is strength...for this is noble.