Preview

Oedipus Rex Vs Creon

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
680 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Oedipus Rex Vs Creon
In the stories of Oedipus Rex and Antigone, there are many similarities between the rules of Thebes. Oedipus Rex is about a man who tries to escape his fate by running away from his supposed mother and father, just to end up fulfilling his destiny by killing his father and marrying his mother. Antigone is about a woman who has buried her brother against her king’s orders. Imprisoned in a cave as punishment, she proceeds to kill herself. Two of the rulers of the city of Thebes were Oedipus and Creon. In the two stories that depict these kings, many similarities arise in the areas of their hubris, their unmitigated disregard for Teiresias, and the rationalization of their fate of whose hands they have fallen victim to. Hubris is fully depicted in both Oedipus Rex and Antigone. “Now twice you have spat out infamy. You’ll pay for it!” (Oedipus Rex 20) Oedipus shows his pride in his disregard for the warnings given to him. “You two, Ismene, snake in my ordered house, sucking my blood stealthily – and all the time I never knew that these two sisters were aiming at my throne!” (Antigone 785) Creon cannot accept that he could possible be wrong, and instead, blames Ismene and Antigone for the …show more content…
Oedipus says in his argument against Teiresias, “Am I to bear this from him? – Damnation take you! Out of this place! Out of my sight!” (Oedipus rex 23) Oedipus has no consideration for what his actions against Teiresias could mean. The answer he seeks is laid out in front of him, and he declines to accept it. When it is Creon’s turn to receive the advice of Teiresias, he also replies similarly saying, “All my life long I have been a kind of butt for the dull arrows of doddering fortunetellers.” (Antigone 800) Creon has essentially had a life full of sayings and prophecies and when one is finally centered on him, telling him that he is at fault, he cannot accept his

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    gilgamesh and creon

    • 1570 Words
    • 7 Pages

    There are many great stories and tales that come from the Ancient Civilization, two of them being Sophocles’ Antigone and the epic of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh tells the story of the careless king of Uruk, that is looking for immortality, who later becomes a wise and responsible king, and the other, Antigone, tells the story of the king of Thebes that is clouded by his own power, who loses everything important to him and is left with sorrow and guilt. Creon, from Antigone, and Gilgamesh are considered to be ruthless leaders. They rule their kingdoms both differently and the same, they both have faults and strengths and how those go into how they remain in power, and how the authors of the stories produce lessons that can be learned by each ruler. Let us start by discussing their similarities and differences.…

    • 1570 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although Creon created the edict with good intentions for the people of Thebes, his failure to recognize the familial bond that ties Antigone to her brother Polyneices coupled with his newfound power as ruler of Thebes contributes to his tyrannical and delusional behavior which ultimately leads to his downfall. Looking back at “Oedipus The King”, Creon established himself as a rational individual, especially during his confrontation with Oedipus when clearing his name as culprit in a placid manner. However, Creon’s attitude shifts dramatically in “Antigone” after assuming the throne. Analysing Creon’s argument with oracle Tiresias reveals Creon’s transformation into a delusional tyrant. Tiresias offers his wisdom to Creon claiming he is responsible…

    • 257 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hubris; a definition of excessive pride, which is what Antigone and King Creon both shared. The difference between King Creon and…

    • 633 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Throughout the story of Antigone, he spills his flaw all over the pages. Such acts are committed when Antigone confesses to burying her brother and argues with Creon that she had done no wrong. Similar to Creon, she was only trying to do the right moral thing, yet his pride holds him from sympathizing with her. Haimon, Creon’s son tries to be reasonable and tries talking him out of making the wrong decision. Even though Haimon is in love with Antigone, Creon refuses to back down on his decision to execute Antigone because then the people will look down upon him. Another example of his arrogant pride is when the prophet, Teiresias, comes to Creon to advise him and to consult about his decision and that it is going to bring about troubles. Teiresias tells Creon, “These are not trifles! Think: all men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride” (232), but Teiresias words doesn’t change Creon’s mind and refuses to yield and accuses him of selling him out and being paid to tell Creon his wrong…

    • 1012 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    While Oedipus was slightly innocent to his faith, and Antigone was trying to do the right thing, Creon had negative cause and effects. After Antigone was put into a prison, the blind seer Teiresias visited. He told Creon that his reaction to Antigone’s “wrong” is extremely rash and the gods have unleashed their fury. Creon takes no heed to the advice and inturn insults Teiresias and the Gods (232). His pride doesn’t allow him to see the future and understand his mistake. When he does acknowledge it, it is to late to save Antigone, for she had already died in her cell. The Gods, with their fury against Creon, made both Haimon and Eurydice commit suicide, asserting the point that pride causes downfall. If Creon had listened to the blind seer earlier and truly regret his mistake, or even better allow Antigone to bury her brother’s body, than this malediction wouldn’t have been placed upon…

    • 389 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The concept of justice is a tricky one and thus it comes as no surprise that the differing views on what is morally right between Antigone and Creon result in the tragedies of Antigone. In Antigone, Antigone and her sister Ismene return to Thebes after they discover that their brothers were waging war against one another to determine who would rule Thebes after the death of their father, Oedipus. When Antigone returns, she discovers that her brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles, already killed each other. These deaths result in Creon becoming the king of Thebes. Upon his rise to the throne, Creon declares a law which holds that those who oppose the state cannot receive a proper burial with formal rites. King Creon specifically notes the importance of keeping the city honorable and thus enforcing this new law, “Such are the rulers by which I will guard this city’s greatness; and in keeping with them is the edict I have published touching the sons of Oedipus.…

    • 1685 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    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.…

    • 642 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Oedipus is the King of Thebes, he was cursed and abandoned at birth; he meets with the priests of Thebes because of a plague that has fallen upon the city. Oedipus sends Creon to the oracle Delphi for instructions from the gods to see how to end the plague. Creon tells Oedipus and the priests that in order to end the plague the murder of the form king of Thebes Laius must be avenged. Oedipus then goes on to say that anyone who with holds information about the murder will be banished from Thebes, he prays the murder will waste his life away, and then he says “If in my house, I knowing it, he dwells, may every curse I speak on my head fall.”(Lines 265-266) Teiresias a blind seer is call by Oedipus to reveal who the murder is; Teiresias refuses to tell him information so Oedipus threatens him with death and Teiresias tells him that the killer is Oedipus. Oedipus then accuses Creon and Teiresias of plotting against him and he then charges Creon with treason; Jocasta and the chorus tells him to keep an open mind so he frees Creon. Jocasta asks Oedipus what the oracle and seer said that made him so upset and tells him that there is no truth in oracles and prophets. After telling Oedipus that Jocasta she says she has proof and tells him about how his father died, the prophecy she received about the baby she abandoned. After hearing this Oedipus is very disturbed by this, might Teiresias accusation have new meaning for Oedipus at this…

    • 269 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Antigone Vs Creon

    • 397 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In differentiating between the protagonist and the secondary characters in Greek drama, four characteristics of a traditional Greek hero should be kept in mind: undying loyalty, strong convictions, a single character flaw, and a lesson learned. In the play, Antigone, by Sophocles, two characters, Antigone and Creon, have thee of these four. The possession of the fourth quality is what sets one apart as the main character. Even though the title of the play is Antigone, the main character-the protagonist- is Creon.…

    • 397 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Antigone Vs Creon Essay

    • 514 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Antigone and Creon’s actions and feelings contrast because she insists that she will only follow the rights of the gods, not the king. This is evident…

    • 514 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Hubris is defined as excessive pride or self-confidence. It is not an uncommon characteristic of characters in Greek literature and plays an important role in the downfall of several protagonists. Characters that have hubris are stubborn and believe themselves as always right. This can cause them to make mistakes in decisions or overestimating their own abilities. Acts of hubris usually lead to death or punishment. In Antigone, Creon and Antigone clearly display their hubristic attitudes. Both are extremely self-confident in their morals and beliefs, fighting to be the right one despite close friends and relatives’ persuasions.…

    • 393 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    This is first expressed when Creon’s pride refuses to show mercy to Antigone even if they are related. He says, “This girl is guilty of double insolence, breaking the given laws and boasting of it. Who is the man here, she or I, if this crime goes unpunished?” (Sophocles 209). One would say Creon’s arrogant pride will stop at nothing in order to obtain the authority he desperately wants to rule by. Creon is most likely the type of person to always believe his actions are just and is higher than any other because of his pride. Hubris is also expressed when Creon attempts to contradict Teiresias, who was believed to be the smartest man of his time. Creon tells Teiresias, “Teiresias, it is a sorry thing when a wise man sells his wisdom, lets out his words for hire!” (232). This is evidence to prove that Creon’s pride has blinded himself because of his outrageous attempt to go contradict a man who has never been wrong. This event also hints Creon inviting catastrophe to occur when he keeps refusing to believe what Teiresias claimed. Ergo, hubris was one of the main reasons that made Creon the tragic hero of the…

    • 470 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Creon In Antigone

    • 496 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Antigone is a tragic play wrote by Sophocles about the conflicts between family members. Oedipus the king of Thebes and his wife both killed themselves due to a mistake that they made in the past. After Oedipus died his two son Polyneices and Eteocles killed each other to see who will be the next king. Both die and Creon, Oedipus’s brother in law, is the next in line to became king. The first law that Creon made since he became king is no one is allow to bury Polyneices body because he is a traitor to Thebes. Anyone who buries Polyneices will die. This law has everyone involved in suffered greatly. Creon has suffered enough for his actions and the Thebens people should not punish him any further.…

    • 496 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Antigone, Creon tried to redirect the direction of his fate, but ultimately, the prophecy about the future of his actions had ultimately become true. In this, Creon realized that from the moment he had set his foolish law into motion, that his ultimate fate had been set. He states in the epic that “My crimes, my stubborn, deadly- look at us, the killer, the killed, father and son, the same blood- the misery! My plans, my mad frantic heart, my soul cut off so young! Lost to the world not through you stupidity, not, my own.” (Sophocles 1393-1399). Creon then realizes that the blame falls to him in this matter, but his ultimate destiny was not in his hands. Creon had tried to change his fate according to the prophecies wishes, but his efforts were ultimately futile. This helplessness of fate is also shown in Oedipus the King. After discovering after all the tinkering he had done to change his fate, Oedipus had realized that the very prophecy that he feared, had indeed come true. “I’d never come to this, my father's murderer… mother's husband… Mother i defiled coupling in my father's bed, spawning lives in the loins that spawned my wretched life. It’s mine alone, my destiny- I am Oedipus.” (Sophocles 1491-1497). With this devastating travesty that has been laid upon him, Oedipus had realized that this fate was his, and his alone, not matter if it was a result of his doing or the gods, and it is with this that Sophocles show how man can’t control their fate.…

    • 1004 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Through arguments between the characters in Antigone, Sophocles emphasizes the Greek trait Hubris to show the decision between the gods and society. In the beginning of the play, Creon…

    • 930 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays