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.
Critical Lens As said by Benjamin Disraeli in Contarini Fleming, “Circumstances are beyond the control of man; but his conduct is in his own power.” Although this quote originates from 1832, centuries before Oedipus the King was published, its logic can still be applied to Sophocles’ play. Disraeli is saying that no one can help the circumstances they are born in, but everyone has the capability to live how they want. At face-value, this may seem true; in the end everyone has the ability to make a decision. Yet, it is their circumstances that drive the choices people make.
The field is freshly raked, the sun is blaring in, the game is beginning, but before she is ready, the ball is hit. With the spot light on her, she quickly stumbles over her feet and misses the ball. “Stupid rock” she mumbles under her breath. Her parents protect her with words like “good job” then she proceeds to smile. Ignorance is bliss, for some.
Creon does not even give Antigone a second chance. He is sticking to his rule and there is nothing that will change that, even with his own nephew. He has no mercy. He has proven to be a brave and committed leader. Oedipus does not show this.
From the beginning Oedipus was destined to fulfill a terrible prophecy, but through particular events that follow the steps of the Hero’s Journey, Oedipus becomes a powerful king of Thebes, only to be destroyed by the prophecy that should have ended his life as a child. The Hero’s Journey typically leads to self-confidence and power, however; the Hero’s Journey of Oedipus leads to his tragic demise. The Hero’s Journey lays out the steps of Oedipus’s future actions, which create suspense, fear, pity, and other emotions that captivates the audience. Similar to many famous stories, Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles in 430 B.C., follows the Hero’s Journey path, which is evident in Oedipus’s departure, initiation, and return.
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
Exodus contains a truly remarkable story about God allowing the Israelites to become slaves to an Egyptian king and endure much suffering. The Israelites refused to repent of their wickedness, and therefore, God showed them how powerful He is. However, God took compassion upon His people and later sent Moses, along with his brother Aaron, to deliver the Israelites out of slavery and into a land flowing with milk and honey. Nonetheless, despite the ten plagues God inflicted, Pharaoh was stubborn and continuously refused to release the Israelites (Exodus, 7). The Exodus events reveal God’s willingness to punish those who disobey, but He is a loving and forgiving God who will not forsake us.
Creon has the hidden, professional demeanor of a government official, which remains in sharp complexity to Oedipus, who instructs him to stand up before everyone. While Oedipus demands hearing Creon's news out in the open and assembles his energy as a political pioneer by upholding a talk of openness, Creon is an ace of control. While Oedipus is resolved to stating what he implies and on hearing realitynotwithstanding when Jocasta asks and begs him not to Creon is upbeat to mask and dodge.
Creon once suggests how “[a person] cannot judge unless [one] know the facts” (Sophocles 515) when he is the one being accused by Oedipus. And yet, Creon commits the same action that he advises others not to do which reveals his dishonesty and insincerity as a monarch. Moreover, Creon does not value the guidance that his subjects has to offer; instead, he values his own opinion, which consequently hinder him from knowing his own mistakes. Creon once trusted Teiresias’s advice, but once Creon becomes a monarch and hears what he does not like to know, he accuses, “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” (Sophocles 22). Creon becomes arrogant to admit his own mistake to keep his reputation as a wise prince.
P.13 Oedipus questions Teiresias, curious to know what he knows. “Oh gruesomely clear it has all unraveled… I was bonded with the people I should have never killed.” P.40 Oedipus sees what he has done wrong and feels vulnerable and horror. The audience clearly sees that heroes are very human and how real their limitations. Most people would have felt that same vulnerability if the gods had made us their plaything and tormented us, writing a prophecy of our doom.
Benjamin Disraeli stated “Circumstances are beyond the control of man; but his conduct is in his control.” and the translation of that quote means people cannot control their fate but they can control how they react to it. In the play, Oedipus, this quote is profound. The story of Oedipus, starts off even before Oedipus was born, an oracle prophesied a horrendous fate. The oracle foretold that the child would kill his father, marry his mother, and bear children that the world would resent.
The big transformation for the hero was going from a small middle school to a huge high school at Canisius. This transformation was a big journey in his life which used both the departure and initiation parts of the Journey of the Hero. This journey was a huge step in the heroes life because he was used to having the same group of friends and not having to branch out and talk to many other people because of the size of his class. That was one of many of the heroes obstacles that he had to overcome in his journey.
After his accusations, Oedipus mocked Teiresias for his blindness, and told him to leave the palace as Oedipus had grown tired of him. Oedipus’s imperfect nature stopped him from learning the truth from Teiresias before it was too late, and lead to great loss at the end of the play. Throughout the story of Oedipus the King, the imperfectly noble nature of Oedipus is displayed for all to learn from. His temperamental and overzealous nature made him argumentative and combative when Teiresias tried to tell him the truth about the murder, causing Oedipus to accuse his good friend Creon of being a usurper.
The religious context of Oedipus Rex. Oedipus Rex is part of the three Theban plays set in the city of Thebes, in which the main character of the play is a king – Oedipus. By looking at the religious context of the play, we can better understand how religion influenced the play. Oedipus Rex was set in Ancient Greece and Ancient Greeks were said to have been very religious, they had a very strong belief in the cosmic order and the Greek Gods.
…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.
