Free fallin'

Fate versus free will in Oedipus Rex is an interesting topic. In Oedipus Rex you must realize that it was Oedipus' fate to one day kill his father and marry his mother. It was however very obvious that this would happen and the circumstances should have provided Oedipus with some evidence. When Oedipus ran into an older man at crossroads why would he kill him if there is a good chance it is his father. Then why would he marry an older woman? There is some evidence that none of this could have been avoided; however, I think that it was a fate that could have been controlled by free will. Some of the situations were impossible to avoid. For instance he had to kill his father in self defense and then was somewhat chosen to be king. I think that Oedipus was doomed from the beginning; however, there were things that could have been done to prevent some of the events and change his fate.