Oedipus And Creon Influence On Society

All of us learn from experiences and are greatly influenced by the people and society around us, through the sociological perspective. Some of us are even told were just like our mothers or fathers, despite not necessarily trying to be. Oedipus accidentally fulfilled the prophecy, despite his efforts not to, that he would kill his father and marry his mother, and would bring disaster to his city and his family. When they discovered what had happened, his wife hanged herself, and Oedipus gouged out his own eyes. They had had four children together. Antigone being one of those children, had her own story that I believed resulted immensely from her father’s actions. Creon is the ruler of Thebes where Antigone dwells. Oedipus's sons, Eteocles and Polynices shared the rule jointly until they faught, and Eteocles expelled his brother. The two brothers agreed to alternate rule each year, but Eteocles decided not to share power with his brother after his tenure was expired. Polynices left the kingdom and gathered an army and attacked the city of Thebes. The Thebans won the war, but both sons of Oedipus were killed, leaving Creon as ruler again. Creon gives Eteocles a full and honorable burial, but orders that Polynices' corpse be left to rot on the battlefield as punishment for his treason. Antigone who is betrothed to Creon's son Haemon,
defies him by burying her brother, and is condemned to be entombed alive as punishment. Antigone tells Creon that it is the livings duty to bury the dead. Creon finally changes his mind. However, when Creon arrives at the tomb where she was to be held, Antigone has already hanged herself rather than be buried alive. His son, Haemon, threatens him and tries to kill him but ends up taking his own life. (Antigone, line 1269.)

Psychology and sociology has taught us that how we were raised, our experiences and the environment around us shapes who we become. Antigone’s mother and father were found out to be mother and son. As it clearly affected them both to the point that they took their own life, one can only assume that all of their own children were also affected by not only the fact that they had an incest relationship but also that they both took their own lives. Also Antigone can relate to modern day in that most still hold the value of family. When Antigone was told that her brother would have a shameful burial she stood against it, regardless of it being against the law of the land she felt it was not only disgraceful but, her brothers god given right.

Many have firm beliefs today regarding god given rights like Antigone.
Antigones’ family history didn’t only affect her its most of the reason why her brothers ended up the way they did. Antigones’ value of family outweighed her value of the law and respecting her soon- to – be father in laws wishes. For many now, the law may outweigh the other values. Another huge factor in Antigone killing herself was that both her parents did also. Which even today may not be too far off. When things become a “norm” in our personal environment it makes it easier for us when situations fall into place for us to choose certain actions over
others.

Antigone displays an extreme idea that we learn from the society around us and that Greek mythology can still relate to ideas that are still prevalent today. It shows a perfect example of tragedy through the deaths of many characters. It shows the comparison in our values today and what they may have been when the tragedies were written. These plays were a hit because others could related to the themes universally, and they’re still a hit because they still relate to humans universally because of the sociological perspective.