Preview

Oedipus Vs Creon Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
771 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Oedipus Vs Creon Analysis
Valery Lopez March 3rd, 2016

Oedipus from “Oedipus Rex” and Creon from “Antigone” both share a common feature. They’re both tragic heroes and share the same story. Although their title throughout the play was the same, some of their intentions, moral and ways of thinking weren’t as much but also were at the same time. In spite of their failure to lead Thebes when they most needed a leader to protect the city their effort was valued but it wasn’t enough. Oedipus and Creon played the same role and ended with the same conclusion. As any tragic hero, Oedipus and Creon had their fatal flaws that got them to where or how they ended up. Their leaderships were caused because of an unfortunate fate. Oedipus became king because as the prophet said, Oedipus crossed paths with Laius and it led to a fight where
…show more content…
He believes a little too much in the loyalty that Polynices disobeyed of Thebes and he ends up being too stubborn to give him the burial he was supposed to have which ends up hurting his family. Creon believed he was right to not let anyone mourn over or give Polynices the proper burial. This triggered what the prophet prophesized and everyone including Creon, killed themselves. Oedipus and Creon’s beliefs were much different, along with their actions. Both of them not following or believing what the prophet says hurts them in a lot of ways. Their fate was both handed to them and they chose to ignore it because they thought their title of “King” was more important and had more significance, but the truth is they were bother completely wrong. The prophet had more power over both of them knowing their fates and what the truth was. Creon was too loyal to his laws that it ruined his family. In conclusion, Oedipus was an honest king, he was very well respected by his people but Creon was never admired like Oedipus was. He was a king who did what had to be done make to Thebes

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Creon, a character from the Greek tragedy Antigone, is described as the tragic hero of the story due to the character's flaws and the consequences that followed. Creon's intentions are purely of nationalism for the land he rules, Thebbes. He forbids anyone to show respect to a violent betrayer, but in the process makes tragic flaws. Creon's tragic mistakes can all be embodied by the one question he had asked his son Haemon, “And the city proposes to teach me how to rule?” ( 3.103). Creon is insistent on ruling one his own. Even When the prophet, Teiresias, tried to help the king, Creon was also deaf to his suggestions, even though they were for his well being. When Creon…

    • 260 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the story “Antigone” both characters, Antigone and Creon are examples of tragic characters. The tragic character is a man of noble stature. He is not an ordinary man, but a man with outstanding quality and greatness about him. This character causes his own downfall due to his own tragic flaw. Creon is a tragic character in the story because of his tragic flaw, his pride and failure to understand when he is wrong. This flaw causes the downfall of Creon because he does not listen to anyone when everyone was telling him to just stop and release Antigone. Antigone is also a tragic character in this story. She is a tragic character because she is stubborn and goes through an outburst of fear and self-pity after she is facing death. Antigone stays loyal to her family that slowly brings her to her down fall. In my opinion though I believe that Creon is the real tragic character because Creon is a perfect example of what Aristotle described in his book “Poetics.”…

    • 1068 Words
    • 5 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

    In Antigone, a play written by Sophocles, the characters Creon and Antigone both fit into a few of Aristotle’s criteria. They are both choices of tragic heroes. They both are neither good nor evil in the extreme but just a man like any of us; they are both born of a better social status than most of us, and both have a tragic flaw in their characters. But even though the story is called Antigone, it is not necessary for Antigone to be the tragic hero. Other things that only Creon does that make him the tragic hero should be responsible for his downfall, the misfortune they get should be greater than what he deserves, and should also have recognition of a truth about himself.…

    • 397 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    What does Oedipus ask of Creon and why? Who is he most concerned about? He ask that creon helps his kids when he leaves, especially his daughters who he is very scared that they will not find a husband 7. What does the Corinthian messenger tell Oedipus about his “father” Polybus? Why is this important? That king polybus is now dead.…

    • 511 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Creon had to face his niece, son and wife all dead as a catastrophe at the end of the story for enforcing the laws of execution upon Antigone. “O horrible… Is there no sword for me, To end this mister?” (Sophocles 16) This quote represent great magnitude and the result after the catastrophe of the death of his son and wife. It shows the feelings of Creon and how terrible he felt, to the point where he felt to commit suicide. Oedipus faced catastrophe but did not face the same amount of magnitude as Creon. Oedipus tried his best to avoid outcome of the prophet and tried to escape his fate my leaving his city, little did he know that they man he killed as the crossroads was his father. “At last the whole, terrible truth had come out. All the oracles had been right: Laius had been murdered by his own son.” (Bennet 2) When he found this out, they also realized that his wife was actually his mother causing her to kill herself. The catastrophe is really tragic though he abandons his kids and Creon faced greater…

    • 864 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Creon Tragic Hero Analysis

    • 1800 Words
    • 8 Pages

    This analysis is to determine the character that fits the tragic hero profile; it was completely based according to the Aristotelian idea of tragic hero and it is understood that hero is: "…neither purely evil or purely wicked; the hero must born in the high social status, and he/she must possess a tragic flaw which is proper from the inner side of the character; it usually manifests in the form of poor judgment and or arrogance, condemning him/herself into a catastrophic finality and in the meanwhile, establishes other character's destiny". Either Antigone or Creon is situated in the highest level of the social hierarchy. Creon became the king of Thebes, after his two nephews killed each other over the throne; Antigone was an orphan who happened to be Creon's future daughter in law. Both presented moral values, differing exclusively on the situation they were applied. Creon's actions towards the people reflected honesty and equal treatment upon the laws he made. Antigone's actions towards the burial of her brother (although he fought…

    • 1800 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Creon purposefully tries to convey the message that he is all knowing and knows exactly how to run a kingdom. His one big decision is to instruct that no one’s gives Polyneices, son of the late ruler Oedipus a proper burial. To communicate this message, he first appeals to false authority, then uses sentimental appeals, and lastly by comparing Polyneices to his brother,…

    • 671 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Aristotle would agree that Creon is the main tragic character, as he makes many decisions which could have led him either towards his tragedy or away from it, but ultimately he led himself to his tragedy. This keeps the audience guessing and heightens catharsis, while Antigone’s fate was quite obvious from the beginning where she says, “As for me, I will bury him; And if I die for that, I am content” (60-61). Creon’s fatal flaw is his stubbornness and reluctance to see anyone else’s view. He begins, like Opideus, as a character that is easily admired and portrayed as an open, caring king, “Zeus, who sees all things, be my witness that I will not be silent when danger threatens the people; nor will I ever call my country’s foe my friend” (147-149). This…

    • 492 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good 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

    Who Is Creon A Tragic Hero

    • 1194 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Though both traditional and Sophoclean tragic heroes are similar, the Sophoclean heroes are distinguished by their rigid loyalty, which leads to a disastrous fate. Creon shows his rigidity in his ways when he refuses downright to back away from what he set as the law of his kingdom. In fact, he is so set in his ways that Creon refuses to even think of the repercussions of his decisions. His rigidity eventually results in both his wife Eurydice, and his son Haemon’s suicide, with his wife cursing him for having caused such tragedies to be brought upon his people. Though both the tragic and Sophoclean heroic personalities are similar, they also have their differences. For example, in the play of Antigone, it is simple to see how both the characters Antigone and Creon’s traits result in a direct conflict, often driving the plot. Creon’s hubris goes in direct conflict with Antigone’s courage, eventually leading both characters to a disastrous ending, but the play gives the reader the ability to distinguish between Antigone, a character who simply met a tragic end, and Creon, a man who was the truly tragic hero of…

    • 1194 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Antigone Tragic Hero

    • 754 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Within the tragic play Antigone, by Sophocles, there is a dichotomy between the two main characters: Antigone and Creon. Throughout the play Antigone and Creon both portray a tragic hero; however, Antigone illustrates more qualities of a tragic hero. A tragic hero is one who fails to attain happiness and whose failures excites pity, has a great integrity of character, and is nether extremely benevolent nor malevolent. These are all qualities Antigone has and Creon does not.…

    • 754 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    According to “Once upon a Greek stage”, we can determine that Creon is definitely the more tragic hero than Antigone via some elements: hamartia, hubris and catharsis. First, hamartia is basically when Creon suffered greatly because of his actions. That caused the lost of his family and the support of his country. Next, the tragedy concept of hubris is largely demonstrated through Creon. For instance, as the king of Thebes, the people all looked to him for the answer. This made him believed that he was always right and everything had to go in the way he wanted to: “I am King of Thebes, Antigone. I have a duty as a monarch.” Moreover, he also believed that his decision was right in the punishing of Antigone, despite that fact that she was engaged to Haemon, Creon’s son. “A broken law is a broken law, and lawbreakers must be punished. Antigone will be no exception.” In this case, his sense of pride was the tragic flaw that led him to his downfall. At the end, Creon finally realized that his pride…

    • 576 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • 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

    Oedipus and Creon both had different leading styles too. Oedipus was honest, sympathetic, dependable, and determined. Creon on the other hand, as stated above, did not sympathize with his citizens. He ruled with fear and violence instead of Oedipus who ruled with honesty, sympathy, dependability etc. Despite their different ruling styles they did happen to share some similarities. They both ruled with pride, they were both proud of the way they ruled no matter if what they did was good or bad. Sometimes they were even so proud, that they were blind to the flaws in their leading. Oedipus and Creon also had a run in where Creon says…

    • 538 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays