Oedipus

I have not been able to come to a definite question that I am passionate enough about to answer yet, but have been toying with these:
*In times of great struggle or suffering, what remains as an individual's saving grace?
*What elicits compassion for one's enemy?
*What makes individuals believe they must go on a physical journey to fulfill a spiritual purpose?
*Do individuals strive for their dreams or settle for what they think they can viably acheive?

Oedipus finds fate to be chasing him, he learns of his doomed life and goes on a physical journey in order to escape his predicament. In doing so, Oedipus makes his fate a reality. This can relate to my question concerning going on a physical journey to fulfill a spiritual purpose in that by leaving his home, where he may have been able to do good acts, and avoid killing his father and marrying his mother, he in fact inhibits his own sucess. In relation to my question concerning one's saving grace, Oedipus relies on his pride to pull him through. At first, he rejects the idea that he could be the evil in Thebes, he is too pridefull to even consider such a thing. When he finally sees the truth, once again Oedipus turns to his pride; he banishes himself from Thebes, confessing to all his wickedness and gouging out his own eyes. In punishing himself, he is keeping his pride intact. Faith versus Fate plays a large role in Oedipus and may also aid in the answering of my other questions.