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Comparing Oedipus To Creon

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Oedipus and Creon contrast in a huge way in Oedipus Rex. They are both main characters with different standpoints and personalities. The interaction between Oedipus and Creon pointed out Oedipus’s tragic flaw and this lead to Oedipus’s exile. Oedipus was a very assertive and curious character. Creon contrast Oedipus because of his manipulative demeanor. In conversation with Tiresias Oedipus states, “Why not, then, tell me what will come anyway?” Oedipus is curious in this statement, proving my previous statement. “… wanders invisible, conquered by death? ...Next, was this seer in business at the time? …Did he say anything about me at that time?” These are all questions Oedipus asked to Creon. Creon is calmer than Oedipus, but he’s manipulative. …show more content…

The conversations between Oedipus and Creon displays Oedipus’s tragic flaw. His overall tragic flaw is his curiosity. “For whom, if he did not meet with you, did he say that the death of Laius was my work?” This was asked by Oedipus to Creon. He is making a mistake by asking this. Jocasta exclaims, “You now, free yourself from these matters…” She was telling Oedipus that his curiosity was going to cause a mess. Tragic heroes always have a tragic flaw. So, Oedipus is a tragic hero because of his tragic flaw: curiosity. The interactions between Oedipus, Creon, and Jocasta advanced the story significantly. Once Oedipus found out about the killing of his father and marrying of his mother, everything goes downhill. Jocasta hangs herself after finding out about her son also being her husband and her son killing her past husband. Oedipus finds her and gouges his eyes out. These events led up to Creon taking over as king and exiling Oedipus soon after his request to be exiled. The few interactions led up to the expulsion of the main character, Oedipus. Therefore, Oedipus and Creon contrast each other greatly. Oedipus is curious and Creon is manipulative. The conversations between Oedipus and Creon discovers Oedipus’s

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725 Words | 3 Pages

When Creon is first introduced, he does not hold any major responsibilities. He is considerate, rational, and respectful toward Oedipus. When Oedipus first starts to search for Laius’s killer, Creon personally recommends that he seek out Tiresias, which,

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1419 Words | 6 Pages

He believes that his intelligence and bravery alone are sufficient to combat any possible obstacles, regardless of those that wish to help him. Creon for example states, “If you think that stubbornness is of value apart from reason, you are a madman!”. Oedipus lacks the capability to trust others and comprehend that they are not necessarily against him, with certain characters even trying to prevent the outcome from being more fatal. He sincerely believes that he is correct and the rest are mistaken, “Come then, say, by the gods, did you think me a fool or coward that you would weave these schemes?”. Inevitably, the representation of Oedipus’ personality leads to numerous questions about the turn the events would have taken if he had acted with more humility and open-mindedness.

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170 Words | 1 Pages

In Sophocles’s Oedipus Rex, Oedipus’ impulsive behavior and stubbornness leads to his catastrophic downfall. Oedipus “levels terrible charges” (574) at Creon because he believes that Creon conspired with Tiresias to kill King Laius. Instead of proceeding “calmly” and “rationally” (652), Oedipus accuses Creon of “scheming to steal [his] crown and power” (598). Oedipus refuses to let Creon defend himself. Moreover, Oedipus does not have evidence to prove his accusations against Creon.

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195 Words | 1 Pages

In the short story titled “Antigone,” the author portrays Creon as a tragic hero by displaying flaws in Creon's character shown throughout the story. Creon’s character contains many flaws which lead to many problems. His decisions end up deciding the fates of his son, his wife, and Antigone. Creon finally realizes that what he has done is sinful to the gods. He has put his own pride over the appreciation of the gods.

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777 Words | 4 Pages

To begin with, in the beginning of the second episode, Sophocles establishes a conflict between Creon and Oedipus. When Oedipus sees Creon at his palace, he scolds, “You-here? You have the gall / to show your face before the palace gates? / You, plotting to kill me, kill the king- / I see it all, the marauding thief himself / scheming to steal my crown and power!”

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650 Words | 3 Pages

In Conclusion, Creon and Oedipus can differ and be alike in their leadership qualities. Creon and Oedipus both follow the objective of doing the right thing by doing what's best for their people and their lands. Oedipus has integrity in his actions and choices but no commitment to his work where Creon has commitment and Oedipus does not. In simplest terms, both characters possess vital traits that make them alike and different and enable them to be successfully known rulers of Thebes.

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836 Words | 4 Pages

Another characteristic of Creon that is highlighted during the conversation is defensive when it came to the uncertainty of his ruling. In lines (831-833) Haemon says, “the people here in Thebes all say the same- they deny she is”, and Creon responds with,” so the city will instruct me how I am to govern.” Haemon explains all the citizens of Thebes think Antigone performed a heroic act by burying her brother, and they think she shouldn’t be considered guilty. Creon becomes over sensitive and foolishly says the city will tell him how to govern. This shows how defensive Creon is when it comes to the uncertainty of his ruling and him not listening to Haemon develops the belief of creon’s downfall of a tragic

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628 Words | 3 Pages

In response, Creon makes an alleged statement of how Oedipus understands nothing. Oedipus’s lack of vision explains his foolishness in thinking that he is in power, and that he has or is in control of anything and everything. He fastens himself onto the value of hope in exonerating himself. In other words he yearns for the feel of being free from such a shameful intimate prophesy. As the story goes on, it continues to emphasize the aura of desperation that is within Oedipus.

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628 Words | 3 Pages

Antigone and Oedipus are described by the Choragus as “both headstrong, deaf to reason,” comparing Antigone and Oedipus who are both full of conceit (Sophocles 16). Oedipus’ hubris leads him to gouge his eyes out and lose everything close to him and, throughout the tragedy, Antigone and Oedipus are compared by the chorus, conveying their eventual downfall and corresponding pride. In addition to Oedipus and Antigone, the Choragus also conveys Creon’s hubris, stating “what he says is sensible,” urging Creon to listen to Haimon (Sophocles 26). Creon, full of pride, refuses to listen to Haimon’s reasoning and challenges the chorus, exclaiming, “And the City proposes to teach me how to rule” (Sophocles 27). As shown through the chorus, Creon, Oedipus, and Antigone all have innate pride that is revealed through their destructive actions, leading to their

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504 Words | 3 Pages

Some people who have read this story will say that it is “bold” or “too sad” but it is a story of reality. Antigone is a story of reality because it shows how bad choices cause immediate problems. The plot and the theme of the story is very strong, but that requires a strong character. There are 2 major characters in this story and 5 minor characters. A major tragic hero of Antigone is King Creon.

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1097 Words | 5 Pages

Creon regretfully says “I have killed my son and my wife. I look for comfort; my comfort lies here dead. Whatever my hands have touched has come to nothing. Fate has brought all my pride to a thought of dust” (Exodos). Creon comes to his senses when it was too late.

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1497 Words | 6 Pages

1. In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus and Creon are two very different characters. Compare Oedipus and Creon by either providing a passage within Oedipus Rex or describing their differences in character. What affect did each of these characters have in the story? 2.

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904 Words | 4 Pages

Cindy Yoon Mr.Constantini English 1A 18 September 2015 Real Tragic Hero of Antigone The play, Antigone is an Ancient Greek play mostly about myth written by Sophocles. There are two main characters in this play which are Antigone and Creon. Antigone is a girl who tries to bury her brother, Polyneices who died during the war and she chooses family instead of the government. Creon, is Antigone’s uncle, and also a King of Thebes who didn’t allow the people to bury Polyneices.

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741 Words | 3 Pages

“Some people create their own storms, then get upset when it rains.” (quotesgram). Creon is a complex character, with many different sides to him. He himself is the storm of his own downfall. In Sophocles’ play “Oedipus Rex”, Creon is a humble man, but when he becomes king in “Antigone”, he becomes a prideful and insecure person, leading to the destruction of himself and those around him.

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796 Words | 4 Pages

It is a terrible, agonizing moment, even in description, but in the depths of his pain Oedipus is magnificent. He does not submit passively to his woe or plead that he committed his foul acts in ignorance, though he could be justified in doing so. He blinds himself in a rage of penitence, accepting total responsibility for what he did and determined to take the punishment of exile as well. As piteous as he appears in the final scene with Creon, there is more public spirit and more strength in his fierce grief and his resolution of exile than in any other tragic hero in the history of the theater. Oedipus unravels his life to its utmost limits of agony and finds there an unsurpassed grandeur of

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