Compare Antigone And Oedipus The King

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Recommended: Character analysis of Creon in King Oedipus

Overpowering and overbearing rulers can blur their judgment of what is right. Taking leadership to the extreme can cause a person to act in ways that do not correspond with their personal beliefs. This problem comes up a number of times in Sophocles plays, Antigone and Oedipus the king. Creon, the second king of Thebes, who is also the uncle of Antigone and Ismene, is a ruler who only cares for himself. Oedipus, the previous king, cares for the well- being of the people and views them as equals. Although Creon transforms over the course of both plays, he is still an uncaring tyrant leader whereas Oedipus is a more humane leader. Initially Creon and Oedipus put forth an overbearing sense of determination that can be the catastrophic flaw that …show more content…

When Oedipus first heard about the oracles’ prophecy that he eventually will kill his father and will marry his mother, he was determined to escape his fate. He left his homeland of Corinth in hope of a new start. Then once he arrived at the city of Thebes, he solved the Sphinx’s riddle. After this encounter Oedipus’ pride had reached a new level. He was praised and worshipped by the people of Thebes, which led to the marriage of Queen Jocasta. While being crowned king, he also learns that someone had murdered the previous king, Laius. Speaking upon this tragedy, he …show more content…

I am agony- where am I going? Where on earth? Where does all this agony hurl me? Where’s my voice? - Winging, swept away on a dark tide- My destiny, my dark power, what a leap you made! (239)
Oedipus is vastly ashamed and devastated by his actions and finding out about the loss of his father and his mother, Oedipus now recognizes that his huge ego and over determination was blinding him from the truth. To end his misery he chooses to blind by stabbing his eyes with the needle of a broach. In conclusion, similar to Creon, he learns the tough way that having too much pride and being over determined can lead to sightless decisions that can result in an unspeakable demise. Even though Creon and Oedipus are completely opposite, their character traits and eventual fate are somewhat similar. In Antigone, Creon starts out as a harsh, brutal leader and Oedipus is the complete opposite. Later on we see that Oedipus develops into the person that Creon once was. One thing that stands out the most about them is how their quick to react but not in a good way. In Antigone, Creon blames the Sentry for burying polynesis,
CREON: Still talking? You talk too much! A born nuisance-
SENTRY: Maybe so, but I never did this thing, so help

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