Compare the portrayal of Creon in Oedipus the King and Antigone.

Essay by missyhaylesUniversity, Bachelor's March 2004

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In both plays Creon is of high social status. In Antigone he is the king of Thebes. In Oedipus the King he is the brother in law to Oedipus and becomes king at the end of the play.

In Antigone, Creon is portrayed as a main character as the plot revolves around him and his decisions as he is the King of Thebes.

In this play Creon's character is irrational, as he does not obey the Laws of the Gods by sentencing his son's fiancée to a slow death, 'she'll never escape, she and her blood sister, the most barbaric death.'

Creon's character in Antigone shows great hubris. This is shown when he harshly punishes Antigone as she betrays him in public. This is made far worse by the fact that she is a woman and his son's fiancée.

Creon shows no care for the Laws of the Gods, as he punishes Antigone for her brother's burial, which is against the God's rules.

Also he is not considerate to others. He ignores his son's pleads to save Antigone, and he also disregards her want to bury her brothers so that they can have a proper afterlife.

In this play Creon condemns others, for example he condemns Antigone to death and also accuses her sister Ismene.

Creon's pride rapidly diminishes when he realises his wrong doings. 'Ai, dead, lost to the world, not through your stupidity, no, my own. This occurs when he founds out both his wife and son have died. At this point he loses all respect from the men in Thebes, even though many disagreed with his decision to disallow Polyniece's burial.

At the end of the play comes Creon's downfall as loses his crown and has to live in suffering as both his wife and son...