Creon's Role In Oedipus

Words: 1740
Pages: 7
Open Document
Throughout the plays Antigone and Oedipus The King we see the role of the chorus play a major part. The main characters constantly have conversations with the chorus, and the chorus provides advice, asks questions, serve as a jury, and take many other roles in the plays. The chorus in the Antigone is much more judgemental of Creon than the chorus in Oedipus The King, because we see Creon doing what he wants over seeking advice from people, yet Oedipus listens to his people. In Oedipus The King, the chorus still sympathizes Oedipus more because he wants to do what is right for his people. On the other hand, Creon in Antigone doesn’t get as much sympathy because he chose to ignore advice given to him. In the epilogue of both plays, the chorus …show more content…
We see Creon throughout the play being a strong leader, but hardly listens to other people’s advice. Creon does what he thinks is right, rather than taking advice from his people and even his son Haemon. When asked to reconsider something that has been said and to listen to the chorus, Creon threatens Haemon and says, “I say she dies in front of him, before her bridegroom’s eyes.” (Sophocles 225) The leader of the chorus tells Creon, “Sire, the young man speaks good sense: worth listening to.” (Sophocles 223), but Creon proceeds not to listen. Because of ignorant decisions like these from Creon, the chorus shows more harsh judgement to Creon. The chorus, after finding out that Haemon and Creon’s wife, Queen Eurydice has died, exclaim, “Look, the King himself draws near, his load in a kind of muteness crying out his sorrow (Dare we say it?) from a madness of misdoing started by himself and by no other.”(Sophocles 247) We see the chorus showing little sympathy towards Creon during a time of loss. They announce that his was all Creon’s fault, and no one else’s that his son and wife were now dead. The chorus also talks about how Creon needs to be careful not to exceed human boundaries in the first choral ode of Antigone. The chorus states, “But when he promulgates unsavory ambition, cityless and lost. And then I will not share my heart with him; I want no parcel of his thoughts.” …show more content…
In Oedipus The King, the chorus sympathizes for Oedipus even when the find out the truth, because of loyalty and respect towards the people of Thebes. In Antigone, we see conversations between the chorus and Antigone where the chorus is sympathizing for her. They think Creon is too harsh on Antigone for doing what she thinks is right, when Creon thinks her actions are wrong. The chorus tells Antigone, “Poor Antigone...were you rash enough to cross the King?” (Sophocles 207) The chorus here is demonstrating how they show more sympathy for Antigone for doing what is right in this situation. After the play unfolds, and Creon is left alone because Haemon, Antigone, and Eurydice are all dead, the chorus shows their true colors when talking to Creon. Moments after Creon gets news about Eurydice’s suicide, the chorus exclaims, “She charged you, yes, with both their deaths-This lifeless thing As double filicidal killer!”(Sophocles 250) The chorus here shows no sympathy and comes right at Creon for being responsible for the suicide of their queen. When Creon tries to pray for forgiveness the keeps persisting that this is all his fault and he will be punished. The chorus states that, “Your prayers are done. Man cannot flatter Fate, And punishment must come.” (Sophocles 251) Even in a horrible time for Creon the chorus is very harsh with the truth. In Oedipus The
Show More

Related Documents: Creon's Role In Oedipus

There Is A Curse On The House Of Oedipus

house of Oedipus. Because of the many terrible things that happen to the members of Oedipus's family, a reader might be led to believe that there is such a curse. However, if that person examines the stories of Oedipus Rex and Antigone more closely, he or she will find that the reason so many tragedies happened to Oedipus's family is not because of some curse, but rather because of one common thread. Each person in the line of Oedipus tries to defy authority in one way or another. Oedipus and Jocasta…

Words 913 - Pages 4

Free Will In Antigone

Oedipus killed his own father, the king of Thebes, without knowing it was actually his father and then married his mother, Iocaste. Together they had four children; including a girl named Antigone-- from which the play gets it's namesake-- who is the heroine of the play discussed in this essay. When Oedipus discovered who he was and what he had done he left the kingdom and cut out his own eyes. Iocaste’s cousin, Creon, took over as King of Thebes. Creon manipulated Oedipus’ two sons, Eteocles and…

Words 661 - Pages 3

Struggle: Oedipus and Uncle Creon Essay

the stories “Antigone” by Sophocles translated by E.P Watling and “Oedipus Rex” by Sophocles translated by John Bennett and Moira Kerr, it is clear that Oedipus faces a greater struggle compared to Creon. Both of these men have a lot of royal power that they are not able to handle, which leads to the ruin of the royal family in both situations and this leaves them each a lot of guilt. Being King in the Thebes seems to be a hard role to play and looks as if there is a lot of pressure put on him. Creon…

Words 2007 - Pages 9

Freedom And Obligation In Ancient Times

Rui Rodrigues Doctor Vaidya World Literature 18 March 2013 Freedom And Obligation in Ancient Times As students have been reading the books such as "The Odyssey", "The Ramayana", Euripides' "Medea", and Sophocles' "Oedipus" throughout this semester they notice a common trait in each one. In each of the books readers realize right from the beginning that each book has the "Power Of The Gods" when needed. In "The Odyssey" Odysseus is consider to be the "heroic" bystander of a human with great…

Words 1177 - Pages 5

Power Of Women In Antigone Vs Creon

daughter/sister of Oedipus, the former Theban King, Antigone was the…

Words 962 - Pages 4

Hamlet: Sophocles and Hot Shot Antigone Essay

Throughout the history of Greek literature, tragic heroes have played a major role in lightening their audience and the writers from present. Such character who fit the definition of a tragic hero is Creon from a famous play name “Antigone”. Creon is a tragic hero because of the conflict in his life and his downfall at the end. His life before becoming the king was heaven like and as soon as he became a king, his life become living hell just like if his faith was already decided by the gods. Becoming…

Words 500 - Pages 2

Oedipus And Antigone Analysis

Even though Sophocles wrote approximately 123 plays, only seven of them have survived. Two of these seven plays are Oedipus the King and Antigone, which both have very similar themes. Oedipus the King takes place in a city called Thebes where a plague occurs. The king of Thebes, Oedipus, is trying to save his city, trying to figure out what is causing these tragic events, but he is blind to the fact that he is the problem. In the play Antigone, Creon, the new king, has a tragic flaw very similar…

Words 1092 - Pages 5

Oedipus Tragic Hero

soul. The heroes Oedipus, Creon, and Okonkwo all fulfill…

Words 1392 - Pages 6

Antigone The Role Of Fate In Oedipus

1. With reference to the text, compare the role of fate in Oedipus the King and The Eumenides. Explain what the idea of fate shows us about human nature and/or the situation of choice. It is acceptable for this answer to treat the Furies as ‘human’ rather than ‘god’ but you can also think of them as gods. The role of fate in Oedipus the King and The Eumenides correlates with one another because it is pre-determined that Oedipus and Orestes would kill their parents. The concepts of Greek philosophy…

Words 984 - Pages 4

Essay on Antigone: Sophocles and Creon

“Antigone” demonstrates the dangers of hubris and the disaster it can cause using the conflict between the two central characters, Antigone and Creon, as the basis of the tragedy. Although they are honourable in their own different ways, Antigone and Creon’s excessive pride contributes as a major factor to the tragedy of the play. This, as well as other factors like the impact of religious and moral beliefs and state laws, and fate, are to blame for the tragic end of the play, with the demise of Creon…

Words 811 - Pages 4