Creon in In Sophocles Tragedies Oedipus the King and Antigone :: essays research papers

In Sophocles’ tragedies Oedipus the King and Antigone Creon’s character experiences great change throughout his life. Creon goes from being a respectable, honorable man with good judgment, to a disrespectable, dishonorable, king. The first impression of the younger Creon is he very religious. He is also obedient to his friend & king Oedipus. Also when Creon is younger he takes advice from people. Creon in Antigone will not listen to anyone’s advice or leadership. He becomes so conceited he makes a law against the gods. Perhaps Creon becoming king was the reason he turned out to be such a tyrant. Theses major flaw in his character is the cause of his tragedy. Oedipus sent Creon to consult the gods of what to do to abolish the plague that was destroying Thebes. Oedipus’ actions illustrate that Creon is a man of immense honor and respect. Oedipus assures to a Priest that everything is going to be fine because he has sent Creon to seek wisdom from Apollo, he says, â€Å"I acted at once. I sent Creon, my wife’s brother, to Delphi Apollo the Prophet’s oracle to learn what I might do or say to save out city† (1369). However, later in life Creon went against the gods. His law fobbing the burial of Polynices shows disrespect and dishonor to the gods. Creon declared, â€Å"But as for his blood brother, Polynices, who returned from exile, home to his father city and the gods of his race, consumed with one desire to burn them roof to roots who thirsted to drink his kinsmen’s blood and sell the rest to slavery: that man a proclamation has forbidden the city to dignify him with burial, mourn him at all. No, he must be left unburied, his corpse carrion for the birds and dogs to teat, an obscenity for the citizens to behold!† (1443) In Oedipus the King Creon demonstrates his compassion and forgiveness, by helping Oedipus even after Oedipus called him a traitor and conspirator. When Creon is called back to the palace Creon says to Oedipus, â€Å"I haven’t come to mock you, Oedipus, or to criticize your former failings† (1428). His sympathy for Oedipus depicts that Creon is not heartless, at this point in his life. Indeed, this changed in the tragedy of Antigone, he did not use any empathy with Antigone, his own niece. Creon developed into a fulsome king, he had no difficulty in convicting Antigone to death.