Answer:
In "Oedipus the King," the gods of ancient Greece are portrayed as having negative attributes, and their actions and decisions have severe consequences for human beings. The characteristic of the gods that is most evident in the play is their tendency to use fate to punish human beings for their sins, even if those sins were committed unknowingly.
Two details from the play that support this response are:
The prophecy given to King Laius about his son, who would grow up to kill him and marry his wife, is an example of how the gods of ancient Greece use fate to punish human beings for their sins. Even though Laius had no control over whether he would have a son, he was still punished for his sins by the gods through the prophecy, which ultimately came true when Oedipus unknowingly killed Laius and married his wife.
When Oedipus discovers the truth about his identity and the crimes he has committed, he blames the gods for his fate, saying that he was "blind" to his actions because the gods "willed it so." This suggests that Oedipus believes that the gods of ancient Greece are responsible for his punishment, and that they use fate to punish human beings for their sins, even if those sins were committed unknowingly.