"Fate" According to the Book

In English class today, we were having this discussion where we were talking about fate, according to Sophocles' Oedipus the King (translated and introduced by Bernard Knox). All of my classmates had many things to say, all of which revolved around whether or not we could change destiny and our fates. I was leaning more to the 'we cannot change our fates' side.

I was thinking that fate is and will always be 'set in stone'. We cannot change it no matter what we do. Somehow or other, the certain prophecy will fulfill itself and then the 'fate' will become true. I think that 'fate' is a rather broad thing. For example, I was to meet my brother on Friday and then he would be hospitalized. I would originally have told him to meet me at the nearby Starbucks and then he would get stabbed by a stalker or a thief. If I heard that, I would avoid seeing him on the streets but that wouldn't mean that he wouldn't accidentally spot me walking along with my hands in my pockets while he was trying to figure out whether it was me or not. He would be too busy to notice a car approaching at a high speed. He would still have 'met' me and be hospitalized.

I think that's about all I'll say on this topic for now. I might continue this tomorrow. I need to catch some shut-eye before school in around five hours. Good night.