The Fall Of Creon In Oedipus The King

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There is a saying that people were not born heartless, but once they sit on the throne, they change. Creon who was once a reasonable man in Oedipus becomes a tyrant once he ascends the throne after the fall of Oedipus. As the ruler of the country, Creon believes that he is subjected to absolute power to make the country prosper, and his policies are doing justice for the citizens of Thebes. The absolute power Creon believes he possess changes his perspective on politics, as his vanity and arrogance of a ruler hinder his reasoning and consequently lead to his downfall as the man of his household and the King of Thebes.
When Oedipus accuses Kreon of stealing the throne and plotting to kill him, Kreon reasonably suggests: “You can not judge unless …show more content…
However, Creon, as a ruler, fosters an environment where he does not value the wise ones, but value himself which resulted in him not recognizing his own mistakes. When the prophet forewarns of Creon's action, Creon questions Teiresias, “But old Teiresias, among human beings/ the wisest suffer a disgraceful fall/ when, to promote themselves, they use fine words/ to spread around abusive insults. (Antigone 22, 1170) Exasperated, Teiresias once again warns Creon that his policies put the city in danger, and his family member would hate him due to his inability to compromise. And yet, Creon dwells only on his thoughts and dismisses other people’s opinions including the prophet and his advisor. Creon’s arrogance and pride hinders his reasoning and consequently caused him to lose his beloved wife, and sons.
Socrates’s statement of how a man who is tyrant will not learn from the knowledge he obtains and will lead to a bad and fruitless life is relevant to how Creon refuses to evaluate his own action despite Teiresias’ warning. Kreon as a subject is willing learn to from his mistakes while Creon as a tyrant stubbornly believes that he is always right. The status as a ruler gives Creon a reason to control all aspects of the country and to believe that he is the only who can make the country prosper; and at the same time, his beliefs make him fail to be a sage ruler of
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