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Compare and contrast essay about oedipus and antigone
Compare and contrast essay about oedipus and antigone
Compare and contrast essay about oedipus and antigone
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From the tragic plays Oedipus and Antigone, Sophocles exemplifies Creon’s dramatic character shift. In the beginning of Oedipus, Creon is seen as honest and short-tempered. Although he did not have the intention to end up as king, towards the end of the play, he gains interest in the throne and desires to take power over Oedipus to become the ruler of Thebes. When Creon is finally king in the second chapter, Antigone, he begins to adapt similar personality traits as Oedipus, having troubles with certain decisions made.
In Oedipus, Creon, Jocasta's brother simply desired to help Oedipus get rid of the plague and seek Tiresias’s help to understand why the gods were upset. Oedipus suspected that Creon was attempting to overthrow his power, “If for this power, Creon desires in secret to destroy me!” (21); therefore, Creon was banished from Thebes. In Antigone, Creon repeated the same errors that Oedipus made before. Tiresias was informing Oedipus that Creon is no threat, yet Oedipus wouldn’t oblige. In Antigone, Tiresias also advised Creon to listen to Antigone and allow her to
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bury her brother, since Creon began to adapt similar personality traits as Oedipus, he did not listen to Tiresias, saying “whatever you say, you will not change my will” (234). This eventually lead Creon to live in regret.Other than his actions, readers also begin to see a change in Creon’s personality and character traits. In Oedipus, Creon is sensible and responsible, stating that “If you think there is anything good in being stubborn… then I say you are wrong.” (28). As can be seen by the end of the Oedipus play, Creon proves that he is the right person to take control of Thebes. Eventually, being the king of Thebes in Antigone, Creon falls apart into a power-hungry and autocratic figure.“Son, you have heard my final judgement on that girl.”(216). Such a quote resembles Creon’s lack of understanding and sensibility, which were characteristics that used to be seen within Creon. Moreover, Instead of maintaining his kingship, he rules Thebes entirely by his own will and not for the benefit of the civilians. “I hate anarchy and never would deal with a man who likes it.”(31).Creon’s peaceful character in Oedipus highlights Oedipus’s short temper.
Although readers see a completely different side of Creon in Antigone, he might have been planning his way to reach the throne, which gives him access to power. In Oedipus, Creon is portrayed as the ‘perfect’ and sensible character who could do no harm. Later on, in Antigone, when he received full control, he began to use his power in a harmful way and to his benefit only.“ No, Teiresias: if your birds - if the great eagles of God himself should carry him stinking bit by bit to heaven, I would not yield.” (232).As shown above, wise and trustworthy characters such as Tiresias could not manage to slightly convince Creon. Additionally,Creon’s stubborn personality lead him to make unnecessary decisions such as refusing to bury Antigone’s brother,
Polyneices. In conclusion, Creon’s change as a character is clearly seen throughout both plays, Oedipus and Antigone. Creon has transformed from rational and understanding character to a figure who is eager to have all aspects his way. Readers witness Creon’s character in Antigone to be quite similar to Oedipus’s character in Oedipus the play, both of them being in the same position. By the end of Antigone, the consequences caused by Creon’s decisions with decisions caused him to regret being stubborn.
Throughout the story of Antigone, particularly the end, Creon proposes the bad-boy in control personality. He acts as the ruler he is and puts his power to work. He fears nothing unless his family is involved. He has no mercy when it comes to the law. Additionally, he is greatly affected by the environment he creates around himself.
Choosing to follow authority and the law is admirable and important in order to have a stable society; however, prioritizing family over all is imbedded in humanity. Family is part of one’s identity and greatly affects one's morals and opinions. If a person solely lives a rigid life, following authority over family, then compassion and the ability to be flexible is lost. Sophocles poses if authority or family is superior through the characters Antigone and Creon as their actions and opinions drastically contrast. Creon puts more importance on his rule and the law, while Antigone emphasizes the devotion to her bloodline and the gods. Antigone, although depicting that authority and the king’s rule is important, puts more importance
In all works of literature you will find characters that change. From Oedipus the King to Antigone, Creon changes a great deal. In Oedipus the King, Creon has no intention whatsoever of being king. By the end of the play he makes it clear that his intentions have changed and he does want to take Oedipus’s power and become King of Thebes. When we see Creon in Antigone he has become king and he begins to make his mistakes.
The character Antigone has been in conflict against Creon ever since he became the king of Thebes. Antigone would never let Creon's law about burying the body of Polyneices override her moral beliefs and her beliefs in the gods. “Zeus did not announce those laws to me, And justice
In Antigone Creon reveals his obstinate nature and how even someone as important as a king is not invulnerable to the problems such a character flaw causes. In the beginning of Antigone the townspeople of Thebes rejoice in their new leader, “Creon,” they call, “the new man for the new day” (174). The repetition of ‘new’ shows how the city is ready to welcome Creon with open arms; this outright praise of Creon shows how highly he is regarded by his people. “You cannot know a man completely…his sense of judgment, not till he’s shown his colors…making laws” (194-197). Here Sophocles is showing the reader not to trust Creon absolutely because even if it seems that it is a new age is dawning, Creon may not be a good leader. In this passage Creon seems determined to prove that he is as strong as Oedipus and Laius to whom Thebes was extremely loyal even through tough times, he is so desperate to prove himself that soon after he sentences Antigone to death. Later, after Antigone has been captured, Creon’s own son, Haemon, comes to him saying, “don’t please, be quite so single-minded” (789). At this point Creon is being directly told of what he is doing. Haemon is someone Creon shou...
Creon starts off being reasonable and understanding with the power he holds. For example, when Oedipus accuses him of trying to steal his crown, he said " If you discover I laid any plot together with the seen kill me, I say not only by your vote but my own." (Sophocles 136). This shows his understanding. Creon is comfortable with his power, people always greet Creon with respect, which demonstrates his power amongst the general population, for example, Creon said, “Now every man 's my pleasure; every man greets me." (Sophocles 136). Illustrates his relationship with the people of Thebes. Moreover, Creon is shown to be valuable towards the citizens of Thebes, when he said " I 'll go, you have not known me, but they have, and they have known my innocence." (Sophocles 140). This shows the trust citizens have towards Creon. Creon shows that he does not care for ruling Thebes, he states to Oedipus that "Now those who are your suiters fawn me, - success for them depends upon my favour. Why should I let all this go to win that?"(Sophocles 136). Creon eventually discovers that power is all he wants, leading towards King Oedipus ' exile. An example, is Creon said " Do not seek to be master in everything, for the things you mastered did not follow you throughout your life." (Sophocles 176), which explains that he manipulates with an intent that people mistake for honesty. Furthermore, this shows the end
...s in Oedipus Rex. Creon has gone from being a calm man of reason to acting greatly upon his emotions. During his brawl with Haimon, Creon is described as being “Completely out of control”. As with Oedipus and Antigone, Creon’s actions resulting from emotions only end badly. Antigone, Haimon, and Eurydice end up dead, all committing suicide after the dreadful events caused by Creon. If only Creon had remained as prudent as he was in Oedipus Rex, things may not have ended so badly.
Antigone is a play about the tension caused when two individuals have conflicting claims regarding law. In this case, the moral superiority of the laws of the city, represented by Creon, and the laws of the gods, represented bt Antigone. In contrast, Oedipus The King is driven by the tensions within Oedipus himself. That play both begins and concludes within the public domain, the plot being driven by the plague that troubles the city, and which is so graphically brought to life by the Priest. In both Antigone (ll179-82) and Oedipus The King (ll29-31) the city is likened to a storm tossed ship, and it cannot be merely coincidence that Oedipus The King was written at the beginning of the Peloponnesian War, a time when Athens itself was suffering the effects of plague. Oedipus The King reaches its climax with a now blinded Oedipus daring to show himself to the people of Thebes, forgetting that he is no longer the leader of the state. In Antigone, it is Creons abuse of absolute power that leads to his tragic downfall. Whilst Oedipus determinedly tried to get to the root of his peoples ills, ultimately discovering that he was in fact the cause of them, Creon morphs from a supposedly caring leader into a tyrannical despot, eager to take the law into his own hands. It is the actions of Antigone that helps to bring about Creons fall from grace, as her steadfast refusal to accept th...
In the story “Antigone”, Sophocles shows that Creon’s attitude is very angry, making everyone sees him as a tyrant more than as a king. His regard for the laws of the town causes him to abandon most viewpoints, like the laws of the gods, or the rights of the people. He believes that his subjects should obey the laws he has set in place, even if moral or religious beliefs contradict his laws and beliefs. Creon’s idea of a good leader is one who maintains order through violence and fear. More over his arrogant, power-seeking personality prevented him from seeking out advice or listening to his own people.
In Oedipus, he wanted nothing more than to help Oedipus rid the city of whatever plague the gods were hurling at them. Creon goes to Apollo's shrine to find out why the gods are angry and then brings Tiresias to help Creon see what has the gods angry. Oedipus does not want to believe the truths Tiresias is telling him and falsely accuses Creon of plotting against him to become king of Thebes. Creon is so hurt by this that he tells the chorus, "This accusation against me by our ruler Oedipus, It's outrageous. (514)" By the end of the play, Creon tells Oedipus that "I'm always as good as my word; I don't speak before I think(1520)."
Sophocles’ play Oedipus and Antigone have many parallel themes and conflicts. Certain characters and events are mirrored and go through similar sequences in both plays. One conflict that is prevalent in both plays is the idea of loyalty. In Oedipus, many are loyal to Oedipus, including the city of Thebes itself. In Antigone, there is much strife in the relationships as well, and the idea of loyalty arises.
When Tiresias arrives in Thebes to speak to Creon it at first appears that Creon will obey the advice the prophet has to offer. This can be seen through their exchange where Tiresias says, “I will teach you. And you obey the seer.” (1094) to which Creon responds, “I will,/ I’ve never wavered from you advice before.” (1095-96) through this dialogue it is clear that Creon values Tiresias’s opinion. It is also ironic because Creon later refuses to heed the advice he has been given by the prophet. In other Greek literature, such as Oedipus the King by Sophocles, the title character also chooses not to believe the blind prophet and in turn blinds and exiles himself. Considering that Creon was present for the events of Oedipus the King, it seems rather obvious that he should follow the prophet’s advice. What is truly ironic about both Antigone and Oedipus the King, the blind prophet Tiresias is the only character in both plays that can actually see what is really happening.
The views of Antigone and Creon are opposed, and they both possess the same stubborn belief in their own righteousness. This ultimately brings them both to their tragic fate. At first we believe that Creon acts from sincere, patriotic and unselfish motives, and that he is acting out of a sincere belief that his decision is best for the state. This is shown in the first episode (lines 163 - 331), where Creon hopes to be a wise and good ruler. Later on we learn that he is too inflexible and narrow to heed criticism or admit fault, and that this causes all the misery in his life. The same is true of Antigone. She appears to be a very compassionate individual in the prologue; however, later on we learn that she is also stubborn and unwilling to bend in her beliefs, which ultimately leads her to her tragic fate.
In OC, Creon still retains some respect for divine prophecies. These have after all motivated his desire to return Oedipus to Thebes. Antigone reveals the ultimate extent to which Creon's character deteriorates. His transformation completes itself; he has become an unreasonable tyrant. Creon can no longer be called a king. He has become a despot.
Sophocles, following the Greek standard of tragedy, casts Creon as the tragic hero plagued by his own pride, inflexibility and power. Creon believes his authority to be twofold, both as the king and as the head of his family. He claims that the throne is the source of all power, saying ?whoever is chosen to govern should be obeyed ? must be obeyed, in all things, great and small, just and unjust? (Sophocles 217), and he demands the utmost allegiance from his son, bidding him to ?subordinate everything else?to [his] father?s will? (Sophocles 216). Creon is filled with hubris, and he rejects any solution that might compromise his image. For instance, when the guards escort Antigone to the palace, he demands of the Choragos, ?Who is the man...