Creon a Dynamic Theban Character

Victoria Amissah        

Ms. Borg

ENGU1

19/07/2016

A Dynamic Character in Thebes

Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and Antigone  follow the outrageous misfortunes of Oedipus and his children over the course of several generations. Throughout the events of both plays, Creon, remains a constant presence. Creon’s reasoning, desire for power, and forgiving nature which he displayed in Oedipus Rex, changed drastically, turning him into a tragic king in Antigone. Although Creon is the same man, his personality in the two works is so different that he can be thought of as two different characters.

At the beginning of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus becomes convinced that Creon, in agreement with Tiresias, hoped to overthrow him as the King of Thebes. Due to misinterpreting Tiresias’ predictions, Oedipus believed that “the trusted Creon, my friend from the beginning beguiles me and secretly desires to oust me” (Sophocles 405-6). Oedipus is very quick to jump to the conclusion that Creon is plotting treason and prepares to condemn him, while in  actuality, Creon had seen that the Gods were angry, and he wanted to help Oedipus rid the city of whatever plague the gods were hurling at them. As stated by Cliffnotes, “As Oedipus storms, Creon maintains his calm; when Oedipus cries out to be banished, Creon protects him with gentle firmness “.  Creon had selfless intentions, that would benefit Thebes. Creon was reasonable and acted as a conscience to Oedipus.

In Antigone another play written by Sophocles, Creon becomes king of Thebes after Polynices and Eteocles battle for the crown in a brotherly war and die. Antigone commits treason by burying Polynices after orders from Creon saying that everyone is to leave him on the ground, unburied. Creon is irrational, and  ignores any notation that his orders may contradict the Gods will for all dead to be buried respectfully. Creon acted without a conscience as he was unwilling to abolish his law for his soon to be daughter-in-law. Creon's law demonstrates his power as king, but does not benefit the Theban people. Ironically, Creon starts accusing everybody of conspiracy, the same way as Oedipus had accused him. Also like Oedipus, Creon disbelieved the words of the blind prophet Teiresias when the seer predicted that Creon's law  will result in the death of Creon's whole family. Creon accused Teiresias of having been bribed. Creon’s lack of conscience and reasoning  in Antigone were a direct contrast to his sympathy and compassion in Oedipus Rex.

Creon’s of forgiving nature was quite profound in Oedipus Rex. He demonstrated this  by helping Oedipus even after he was accused of treason by him. When Creon is called back to the palace Creon said to Oedipus, “I’ve come not so that I may laugh at you or taunt you with evil of the past.” (1421-1423). Creon’s words spoke for themselves in showing sympathy and forgiveness.Creon’s actions were quite  forgiving as well. He brought the blind, and distraught Oedipus away from the public eye, promising  to care for  king's children as well. Creon as a final act of honoring his king banished  Oedipus from Thebes at his request.

In Antigone, Creon’s concern for his royal  image caused him to be unforgiving about the breachment of his first law. He did not want to be thought of as a weak leader whose laws could be ignored, and certainly not by a women. He was willing to have Antigone and her sister, Ismene, executed without any remorse saying, “ we must not let people say that a woman beat us” (Sophocles 1434), because they had  broken his law. In addition to being unforgiving towards Antigone because she was a woman, he seemed even more strict because she was his son’s wife-to-be. When Ismene questioned if Creon would really be willing to send his son’s fiancee to death he replied saying, “ Yes,there are other fields for him to plough” (747). Haemon explains that the people were too afraid of Creon to speak out against him, but that as king, Creon needed to take Haemon’s advice and abolish the law. Creon replied by telling Haemon that a city belongs to its master and accused his son of siding with his fiancee. The sympathy and compassion Creon once had in Oedipus Rex had changed into stubbornness and a lack of sympathy in Antigone.

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