Sunday, June 21, 2020

The Profitability Liquidity And Credit Risk Finance Essay - Free Essay Example

The chapter will discuss aspects of research methodology applied in this study. It will also discuss on the data collection method and other statistics tool that will be used in evaluating the performance of the banks. This study will use descriptive financial analysis to describe, measure, compares, and classifies the financial solutions of Malaysian banks. To evaluating banks performance, this study uses a ratio measure that is not a new method in the literature. The use of ratio method has many advantages and the most important benefit is that it compensates bank disparities. Banking firms are not equivalent with respect to sizes. The ratio removes the disparities in sizes and brings them at par. In order to examine whether there is a difference in performance between Islamic banks and conventional banks of Malaysia, equality of mean test is performed. The equality of mean test used for comparing statistics from two or more samples of numeric data drawn from two or more populations is most widely used in the literature of performance and the typical text in statistics. The hypothesis is that the performance ratios are normally distributed. The null hypothesis of the equality of mean for the conventional banks and Islamic banks is tested against not equality of mean. Dependent variable The dependent variable for this research is performance Islamic banks comparable to conventional banks in Malaysia, coded 1 if a performance Islamic bank is at par with the conventional banks and 0 otherwise. Independent variable The independent variable for this research is comprising (1) profitability performance, (2) liquidity performance and (3) credit risk performance that will influence the overall performance Islamic banks comparable to conventional banks of Malaysia. 3.3 Data collection In this study, the performance of Islamic banks in Malaysia is compared with the conventional banks. The data for financial ratios are obtained from the respective banks annual report each year for 10 years from the period 2002 until 2011 of the both Islamic and conventional banks (include foreign banks). Therefore, the growth rate of the banks are measured based on 2011 as the base year consist of : Local full-fledge Islamic banks Bank under this category is classified as standalone Islamic commercial banks established with no relationship with conventional bank either as tha parent or subsidiary company, such as, Bank Islam and Bank Muamalat. Local Islamic subsidiary banks Islamic subsidiary banks are those banks that have been established after the migration of conventional banks with Islamic bank windows into a full licensed of Islamic bank status. Foreign banks (both conventional and Islamic) Foreign banks are those foreign players that have been granted a li cense by BNM to established financial institutions in Malaysia. The data employed is obtained from the annual reports of respective banks. All data for Islamic subsidiary banks are taken from the annual report of the parent bank is annual report is not available, that is prior to establishment of standalone Islamic banks. 3.4 Sample The sample banks for this study are forty three (43) banks (include foreign banks) comprising two (2) full-fledge Islamic banks, other fourteen (14) Islamic banks and twenty seven (27) conventional banks. The unavailability of audited financial statements of some banks limits us to use bank population for analysis. 3.5 Performance measures This study uses internal factors for those related to items of balance sheet and income statement of banks and well within the control of the bank management. After examining the income statement and balance sheet of Islamic banks and conventional commercial banks of Malaysia, this study utilizes seven financial ratios for evaluating the financial performance of Islamic versus conventional of bank of Malaysia. These financial measures of performance are placed under three categories as given below: Profitability Performance Liquidity Performance Credit (loan) Risk Performance Profitability performance There are some financial measures for evaluating profitability performance of a firm. This study uses the following three basic. They are: Return on Assets (ROA) = profit after tax/total assets ROA is a superior indicator of a banks financial performance and managerial effectiveness. It shows how proficient the management is in allocating asset into net profit. The higher the ROA, the higher the financial performance or profitability of the banks. Return on Equity (ROE) = profit after tax/equity It shows a rate return on base capital, i.e., equity capital. The higher the ROE, the more efficient is the performance. Cost to Income (CTI) = total cost/total income. Cost incurred per ringgit generation of income or in other words, income generated per ringgit cost. It is indeed considered to be one of the best indices for measuring economic efficiency or profit performance. The lower the CTI ratio, the better is the profitability performance of a bank. Liquidity performance Liquidity is the life of a commercial bank. Liquidity means cash availability: how quickly a bank can convert its assets into cash at face value to meet the cash demands of the depositors and borrowers. The higher the amount of liquid asset for a bank, the greater is the liquidity of the bank. Among the various liquidity measures, this study uses the following: Cash Deposit Ratio (CDR) = cash/deposit. Cash in a bank vault is the most liquid asset of bank, therefore, when withdrawal exceeds new deposit significantly over a short period, banks will get into liquidity problem. Bank with higher CDR is relatively more liquid than a bank which has lower CDR, thus enhance depositors trust. Loan Deposit Ratio (LDR) = loan/deposit. It indicates the percentage of the total deposit locked into non-liquid asset. The higher the LDR, the higher is the liquidity risk. Credit risk performance Three financial ratios are used for measuring loan/credit risk performance of a bank. These are: Equity to Asset ratio (EQTA) = common equity/assets. It measures equity capital as a percentage of total assets. EQTA provides percentage protection afforded by banks to its investment in asset. It measures the overall shock absorbing capacity of a bank for potential loan asset losses. The higher the ratio of EQTA, the greater is the capacity for a bank to sustain the assets losses. Equity to Net Loan ratio (EQL) = total equity/net loans. It measures equity capital as a percentage of total net loans. EQL provides equity as a cushion (protection) available to absorb loan losses. The higher the ratio of EQL, the higher is the capacity for a bank in absorbing loan losses. T-test analysis A  t-test  is any  statistical hypothesis test  in which the  test statistic  follows a  students  t  distribution  if the  null hypothesis  is supported. In order to examine whether there is a different in performance between Islamic banks and conventional banks of Malaysia, t-test is performed for all financial ratios. The assumption is that the performance ratios are normally distributed. The t-value is an indication the probability that both selected samples have the same mean and that differences in the sample means are due to fluctuation. As the t-value gets smaller (approaches zero) the probability that sample means ate the same gets larger. As the t-value gets larger (in either the positive or negative direction) the probability that sample means are the same gets smaller. Whereby: n = sample size s ² = variance = sample mean df = degree of freedom subscript1 = sample from Islamic banks subscript2 = sample from conventional ban ks Since t-value is used to determine whether there are significant differences between two groups, the comparison is made between conventional banks and each category of Islamic banks. Regression analysis In  statistics,  regression analysis  includes a lot of techniques for modeling and analyzing several variables, when the focus is on the relationship between a  dependent variable  and one or more  independent variables. Regression equation : ÃÆ'†¦Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ · = a + bx Once you have the regression equation, using it is a snap. Choose a value for the independent variable (x), perform the computation, and you have an estimated value (ÃÆ'†¦Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ·) for the dependent variable. Regression model : ÃÆ'†¦Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ·Islamic = a + bx1 + bx2 + bx3 ÃÆ'†¦Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ·Conventional = a + bx1 + bx2 + bx3 Whole model : ÃÆ'†¦Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ·Malaysian banks = a + b1PROFITABILITY + b2LIQUIDITY + b3CREDIT RISK Whereby : ÃÆ'†¦Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ · = performance of banks (each and both) (dv) a = a constant terms bx1 = profitability performance (iv1) bx2 = liquidity performance (iv2) bx3 = credit risk performance (iv3) Regression analysis is also used to understand which among the independent variables are related to the dependent variable, and to explore the forms of these relationships. In restricted circumstances, regression analysis can be used to infer  causal relationships  between the independent and dependent variables. All these method can be identified by using SPSS to see the result of every method one by one. Regression analysis includes a few techniques for modeling and analyzing several variables, when the focus is on the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables (Keller, 2008). 3.6 Chapter summary This chapter contains a description of the research methodology that will be used in this study. Furthermore, the research design and method, sampling, data collection method and the types of analysis to be used are also discussed. The results of the study as well as the conclusions to be drawn from the findings will be constructed in the next two chapters.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

The Bible Look For Attributes Of God - 1173 Words

1. Virtue: In other words, INTEGRITY. Integrity means following your moral or ethical convictions and doing the right thing in all circumstances, even if no one is watching you. It is your moral standard of living. We are to be imitators of Christ. When reading the Bible look for attributes of Jesus and apply them to your life. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children (Eph. 5:1). 2. Faithful: Being faithful means LOYALTY. Being faithful is doing what you have promised to do. It is a part of the fruit of the Spirit. Can God trust you with His business of leading others to Jesus Christ? If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do†¦show more content†¦6:10). 4. Hardworking: This means to work at things with zeal; with eagerness and enthusiasm. The opposite of lazy. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord (Rom. 12:11). Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters (Colossians 3:23). 5. Provider: Being a giver and not a taker. You provide for others rather than always taking for yourself. It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35) 6. Early Riser: This has to do more with not being lazy in your life. Get up and do something productive. Do not love sleep or you will grow poor (Proverbs 20:13). A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied (Proverbs 13:4). 7. Business Savvy: Our creative God has made us to be creative. He has made us to work. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers (Exodus 35:35). 8. Strength: Not just in the physical sense but in the spiritual also. Having on the armor of God (Eph. 6) and standing strong as you battle the enemy. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Phil. 4:13). Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be

Monday, May 18, 2020

Example Law Essay - The declaration of theory of law - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1311 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Law Essay Type Essay any type Did you like this example? Introduction The declaratory theory of law is quite simply that judges do not make or create the law, the merely declare what the law is and what it has always been. The declaratory theory of law has often been used by members of the judiciary and constitutional lawyers as a shield against the accusations of others that judges do in fact create law. The issue with the creation law by the judiciary is that the judiciary is an unelected body and therefore not accountable to the general public for their actions and judicial reasoning. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Example Law Essay The declaration of theory of law" essay for you Create order The legislative body of the United Kingdom, Parliament, is elected and therefore, in theory, a reflection of the majority view on key issues such as euthanasia, gay marriage and terrorism measures. The reality is the English legal system has two main sources of law when it comes to the determination and deliverance of justice. There is the common law doctrine of precedent which has evolved with the judiciary and as a result, some would argue is highly uncertain. The second source of law takes the form of statute and as a result of the legislative wording that exists, is significantly more certain. Regardless of an individuals view on the matter, it has to be accepted, as stated by Lord Irvine of Laring, that, within a certain limit, the role of judges will require a degree of legitimate law-making. The limits of this law making ability is defined by the English constitution and entangled key principles, such as parliamentary supremacy. The judges do every day make law, thoug h it is almost heresy to say so. The reality is that the English Legal System has developed as such that the judiciary do demonstrate a degree of judicial creativity which results in the creation of law. There are two key cases, well known to all English lawyers which demonstrate the fact that the judiciary do make the law. The first is the famous tort case of Donoghue v Stevenson . In this instance, the claimant was asking the judiciary to develop a principle that was otherwise not in existence. The problem was that the claimant was asking the judges to not only change the law so that it supported her case but to also retrospectively apply that law to the event in question (i.e. the snail in the ginger beer incident). The result was that in 1932 the judges stated that the defendant had a duty of care towards the claimant that did not actually exist in 1928 when the incident occurred. There are two schools of thought as to how it can constitutionally be possible for the jud iciary to act in this manner. The first is the most obvious but equally the most constitutionally concerning theory that the judges simply created new law and then retrospectively applied it to the event in question. There are some obvious issues here in terms of the principles of law and also the English constitution . The second of school of thought is the least applicable in terms of academic sway but is the most compatible with the principle of the English judicial system. This is the application of the declaratory theory of law, whereby the judges in this case were simply stating the law as it always has been. The next important case for consideration in this aspect is the criminal law case of R v R . This case involved the conviction of a defendant for raping his wife. Prior to the determination of this case there was no such thing as rape within a marital relationship; it was implied through the virtue of being married that sex would always be consensual. However, this conviction drastically changed the law by removing this marital exemption. The declaratory theory of law would have you believe that this is what the law had always been and that there was no new law being made. However 300 years of precedent in the form of such an exemption existing would contradict such a position. As a result, it has to be accepted that the declaratory theory of law is not a valid theory anymore and that judges do create law for legitimate purposes. Separation of Powers As the law has developed, so have the academic theorists who argue that the judiciary can make law within certain narrow confines. This is not necessarily a negative concept, as many would have you believe, as the ability of the judiciary to make law without accountability is both an advantage and a disadvantage. The development of law in this manner means that the fact that judges do not have to worry about voting statistics is an advantage in ensuring that the correct and just path is followed . Rather than issues being dealt with in accordance with the mob mentality of the general public, they are determined without such pressures and in accordance with a pure moral conscious. The law can be changed quickly in this manner which makes the judiciary incredibly versatile. There is however a limitation on this power, which is embodied in the separation of powers which contains levels of checks and balances. It is important to appreciate two aspects of this problem. The first i s the United Kingdom is one of the few countries in the world that does not have a written or codified constitution . This means that there are an extensive number of areas which have had to develop through doctrine and principle over a long period of time as there has been no specific document to resolve the question at hand. The second is that the concept of the separation of powers is a political notion and not a legal principle . The political concept of separation of powers is possibly as old as democracy itself, as its origins can be traced back to the father of logic, Aristotle. However, a number of legal principles have influenced the manner in which the political world has functioned. The most influential is that of Diceys theory of parliamentary supremacy . This principle has influenced and dictated the extent of judicial creativity and activism and has acted as a check on the judiciary . This effectively makes the judicial branch the weakest branch of the three as the courts recognise that they can be overridden by Parliament. This was demonstrated in the case of Burmah Oil v Lord Advocate . In this case, the House of Lords held that the proprietor of the oil fields was entitled to compensation from the government for the lawful damage that had been caused. However, Parliament then enacted the War Damage Act 1965 which retrospectively exempted the Crown from paying such compensation. This effectively frustrated the decision of the House of Lords and resulted in the Court being overridden. Conclusion It has to be accepted that the judiciary to alter the law and allow for it to develop through their judicial reasoning. However this is not something to be feared, as the judiciary is still the weakest branch out of the three constitutional branches and it has not yet exceeded its judicial remit. The use of parliamentary principles such as Parliamentary Sovereignty means that the powers of the judiciary are limited without the concept of justice being infringed upon. Bibliography Cases Burmah Oil v Lord Advocate [1965] AC 75 R v R (rape marital exemption) [1991] HL Books Alan, TRS, Law, Liberty and Justice: the legal foundations of British Constitutionalism Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2003, chapter 3 Lord Denning, The Reform of Equity in C.J. Hamsori (ed). Law Reform and Law-Making (1953) Pollard, D. Constitutional and Adminstrative Law: Text with Materials Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2007, 15 Journals Baroness Hale A Supreme Court for the United Kingdom (2003) 119 LQR 49 Lord Bingham The Old Order Changeth (2006) 122 LQR 211 Lord Steyn Democracy, the Rule of Law and the Role of Judges [2006] EHRLR 243, 246 Woodhouse, D. The Constitutional and political implications of a United Kingdom Supreme Court (2004) 24 LS 134 Legislation War Damages Act 1965

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Locating Macbeth at the Thresholds of Time, Space and...

In the preface to Folie et dà ©raison, Michel Foucault unmistakably locates madness at the limen of cultural identity: European man, since the beginning of the Middle Ages has had a relation to something he calls, indiscriminately, Madness, Dementia, Insanity. †¦ [It is] a realm, no doubt, where what is in question is the limits rather than the identity of a culture. (Foucault xi) By describing madness in this way, he demonstrates his understanding of madness as a cultural phenomenon, defined not by the analysis of a subject’s symptoms, but rather the shared assumption that a subject is not ‘right’, does not conform to the prevailing ideological norm. Written in the late twentieth century, his work is a treatise about the wider†¦show more content†¦During Shakespeare’s time, the insane â€Å"†¦were not merely victims of a brutal society; they were also violent, murderous and politically dangerous† (Salkeld 80), and thus if we take his plays to be true â€Å"expressions of everyday life,† (Harmon 403), it is not surprising that the mad monarchs of Macbeth is so expeditiously removed from the throne. For those of the Early Modern period, the idea of a monarch possessed by madness was anathema, â€Å"something against which to prepare†¦ and above all, to avoid,† (Harmon 403) for what is to made of the Monarch’s privilege to speak on behalf of God if they are, indeed, a Madman? It is clear that both Macbeth’s state of mind that results from his transgressions is not a healthy one, and his wife ultimately cannot reconcile her guilt at Duncan’s murder with continued life. Macbeth then, can easily be interpreted as a case study of the mind. The ‘stuff of madness’ provides excellent entertainment for Shakespeare’s audiences, both contemporaneously and in the modern world, but more can be revealed through an analysis of how this madness is presented. The Foucaldian perspective indicates that madness is a â€Å"material condition that, to be understood, must be read, made sense of, [and] inscribed into discourse,† (Neely 142)

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Natural Consequences In William Blakes A Poison Tree

Have you ever felt the burn of a consequence? The bullet-like words that come out of your parent’s mouth, right as they sear and tear apart your free time. I bet you have, we all have. Although when you do something so despicable that your consequence is death, now that deserves an explanation. In the poem â€Å"A Poison Tree† two neighbors are feuding indirectly, this goes on and on until one neighbor acts upon his anger and grows a poisoned apple tree. In the short story â€Å"Cask of Amontillado† Montresor (the protagonist) finds out that Fortunato has beaten Montresor thousand times, and when he is finished beating, Montresor can tell that Fortunato is his sworn enemy. Montresor lures Fortunato down into a dungeon-like place and entraps him in†¦show more content†¦Fortunato is characterized as an easily persuaded person who is competitive in wine tasting. Montresor lures him to his fate as his consequence and for someone who beat and tortured someone he is really drunk and really clueless. In the story â€Å"Cask of Amontillado† the author Edgar Allen Poe uses the events before Fortunato’s death to characterize Montresor as a shifty character, and Fortunato as a terrible drunk. These events lead into consequence and show how Fortunato’s death came to be. In the poem â€Å"A Poison Tree† by William Blake, two neighbors feud and the action of one of them changes everything, while the other broods in his own anger, these two characters develop and Blake uses this to his advantage to show natural consequence. One of the neighbors decides to become a thief, and steal from the other’s apple tree, he might not know it, but this is probably the worst decision of his life, â€Å"And into my garden stole† (13, Blake) The demonstration of this mischievous act demonstrates characterization. Right off the word â€Å"stole† you can figure out that the thief neighbor is a rotten person who goes behind people’s backs, and off the words â€Å"my garden† you can see that the other neighbor is a fellow who likes his garden to himself. These two characters show the different roles in the first part of natural consequence, aShow MoreRelatedThe Notion of Duality of the Human Soul in William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Experience4371 Words   |  18 PagesOf The Human Soul In   William Blake’s Songs Of Innocence And Experience Tembong Denis Fonge             Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Experience generally subscribe to the main stream appreciation that they present the reader with two states of the human condition - the pastoral, pure and natural world of lambs and blossoms on the one hand, and the world of experience characterized by exploitation, cruelty, conflict and hypocritical humility on the other hand. However, Blake’s songs communicate experiences

Does the nuclear family benefit the bourgoisie Free Essays

The nuclear family can be taken to be two parents and their children. Is the nuclear family primarily to benefit the powerful rather than society as a whole can be perceived to be true. This point of view is associated with Marxism and the powerful are the ruling class or bourgeoisie. We will write a custom essay sample on Does the nuclear family benefit the bourgoisie? or any similar topic only for you Order Now They own the means of production such as land, factories, machines and so on. Marxism is based on an exploitative and unequal relationship between two classes. The proletariats who are the workers are the majority and this is were the family comes in. The family is controlled by those who control the economy and they control the family and manipulate the family into benefiting them. In any society the economic aspect (that is, the productive process involving the creation of goods and services for distribution and exchange) is always the most basic, fundamental and ultimately most significant aspect because it is only through economic activity that people can produce the things they need for their physical survival. Marxists tend to see institutions like the family in terms of what they do to support the overall structure of capitalist society, their function within the limit of a particular form of economic production. Unlike Functionalist sociology, Conflict sociology tends to view these functions from more than one angle (for example, the family as an institution may serve useful purposes for upper class men, but not for working class women). Eli Zaretsky (â€Å"Capitalism, the Family and Personal Life†, 1976) a Marxists believes that the family is a prop to the capitalist society. The capitalist system is based upon the domestic labour of housewives who reproduce future generations of workers. He also believes that family has become a vital unit of consumption. The family consumes the products of capitalism and this allows the bourgeoisie to continue producing surplus value. In this respect, people are not simply being socialised into â€Å"society†, the socialisation process is directed towards the integration of people into a specific form of social relationship, one that reflects the fundamental, structural, inequalities of Capitalism. The ruling class ideology makes the family as an institution help to maintain and reproduce basic social inequalities by presenting them as â€Å"normal† and â€Å"natural† within the socialisation process. This creates a false class consciousness as they are not aware of their true identity as exploited workers. The family is a safety valve for people’s frustrations whereas the vast majority of males are relatively powerless in Capitalist industry, the family structure serves the purpose of disguising this powerless condition. Males within the family have traditionally been powerful figures in relation the females. Marxists contend that this â€Å"illusion of power† within the family serves as a safety value for the build-up of tension and frustration at work. The feminist perspective on the family has tended to stress the following ideas. Men oppress women within the family, just as they oppress women within all other institutions in Capitalist society. Feminist have tended to dismiss ides of gender differences based upon supposed biological / genetic differences between males and females that serve to legitimate male domination over women. Women have a role forced upon them within the family. Women act as â€Å"unpaid servants† within the home. This idea is linked, by Marxist feminists, to the economic relationship between Capital and labour, in the sense that labour is exploited by Capital in the economic aspect just as women are exploited by men within the family. They see family benefiting the powerful who are the men, this is patriarchy. Functionalist sociology has tended to look towards the family as the cornerstone of social integration in any society by which is meant the idea that ways have to be found to make people feel that they belong to the society into which they were born – to feel and believe that they have something in common with the people around them. The family group represents the primary institution, in any society, for the initial socialisation of children. In this respect, any institution charged with this responsibility is going to play a significant part in the reproduction of cultural norms and values, therefore family benefits society as a whole. The family as a unit of stability, of equal importance to this socialisation function, the family also represents an institution that acts as a stabilising force in society. In this respect, the family is seen to be an institution that is charged with ensuring the maintenance of social order. The basic relationship of the family institution to the whole social structure in society that is proposed by Functionalists is the family is a vital social institution responsible with the basic functions of socialisation and system maintenance. Fletcher a functionalist thinker, identifies the main functions of the family as being: Procreation and Child-Rearing: The family structure provides a legitimate arena for the bearing and raising of children. Given the relative helplessness of children at birth, parental nurture and care is seen as vital – and the family provides a solid basis for such care and support in the early years of a child’s social development. Regulation of Sexual Behaviour: In this respect, the family structure serves to limit and contain sexual jealousies and by defining the limits of sexual freedom, the family structure limits the chances of potentially damaging sexual relationships developing. Additionally, the family is a primary institution for the provision of love, care and emotional support for both children and adults. In short, it provides a sense of belonging and serves to clearly-define role relationships between men and women. Provision of a Home: This idea expresses the assumption that people find comfort and security within primary social and sexual relationships. The â€Å"home† not only provides physical shelter, it also serves as the focal point of family existence. I recognise that the family group serves some kind of purpose in any society. Where Marxists tend to disagree with thinkers working in other perspectives, however, is in relation to the nature of that purpose and, for Marxists, the relationship between the family and the social structure of any society is one of unequal dependence. Functionalists argue that social institutions develop out of the need to satisfy, fulfil and organise various human social needs. However I feel that the primary role of the family is not to benefit the powerful but in some societies it does to an extent conform to this idea. There are other functions of the family such as the socialisation of children also providing love and support for its members which does not always benefit the powerful. How to cite Does the nuclear family benefit the bourgoisie?, Essays

Oedipus the King Free Will vs Fate Essay Example For Students

Oedipus the King: Free Will vs Fate Essay The events in Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, show an underlying relationship of mans free will existing within the cosmic order or fate which the Greeks believed guided the universe in a harmonious purpose. Man was free to choose and was ultimately held responsible for his own actions. Both the concept of fate and free will played an itregal part in Oedipus destruction. Although he was a victim of fate, he was not controlled by it. Oedipus was destined from birth to someday marry his mother and to murder his father. This prophecy, as warned by the oracle of Apollo at Delphi was unconditional and inevitably would come to pass, no matter what he may have done to avoid it. His past actions were determined by fate, but what he did in Thebes, he did so of his own will. From the beginning of this tragedy, Oedipus took many actions leading to his own downfall. Oedipus could have waited for the plague to end, but out of compassion for his suffering people, he had Creon go to Delphi. When he learned of Apollos word, he could have calmly investigated the murder of the former King Laius, but in his hastiness, he passionately curses the murderer, and in so, unknowingly curses himself. Upon the murderer I invoke this curse- whether he is one man and all unknown, or one of many- may he wear out his life in misery or doom! If with my knowledge he lives at my hearth, I pray that I myself may feel my curse. (pg. 438; lines 266-271)In order for Sophecles Greek audience to relate to the tragic figure, he had to have some type of flaws or an error of ways. This brought the character down to a human level, invoking in them the fear that it could happen to them. And Oedipus certainly is not one without flaws. His pride, ingnorance, insolence and disbelief in the go ds, and unrelenting quest for the truth ultimately contributed to his destuction. When Oedipus was told (after threatening Teiresias), that he was responsible for the murder of Laius, he became enraged and calls the old oracle a liar. He ran away from his home, Corinth, in hopes of outsmarting the gods divine will. Like his father, Oedipus also sought ways to escape the horrible destiny told by the oracle of Apollo. The chorus warns us of mans need to have reverence for the gods, and the dangers of too much pride. If a man walks with haughtiness of hand or word and gives no heed to Justice and the shrines of Gods despises- may an evil doom smite him for his ill-starred pride of heart!- if he reaps gains without justice and will not hold from impiety and his fingers itch for untouchable things. When such things are done, what man shall contrive to shield his soul from the shafts of the God? (pg. 452; 975-984)Oedipus unyielding desire to uncover the truth about Laius murder and the my stery surrounding his own birth, led him to the tragic realization of his horrific deeds. Teiresias, Jocasta and the herdsman tried to stop him from pursuing the truth. Take for example a part of the last conversation between Jocasta and Oedipus. After realizing that the prophecy had came true, Jacasta begs him to just let the mystery go unsolved for once. I beg you- do not hunt this out- I beg you, if you have any care for your own life. What I am suffering is enough. (pg. 461; 1158-1161) Oedipus replies, I will not be persuaded to let chance of finding out the whole thing clearly. (pg. 461; 1166-1167) He is unable to stop his quest for the truth, even under his wifes pleading. For it is in his own vain that he must solve the final riddle, the riddle of his own life. .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc , .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc .postImageUrl , .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc , .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc:hover , .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc:visited , .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc:active { border:0!important; } .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc:active , .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6573dbeb8f7f32f0129a154d3b129ebc:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Child Abuse Can Kill EssayUpon discovery of the truth of his birth from the herdsman, Oedipus cries, I who first saw the light bred of a match accursed, and accursed in my living with them, cursed in my killing. (pg. 465; 1300-1303) Oedipus knew that his fate had indeed come to pass and feels cursed by