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Final Paper: “Antigone and Oedipus Tyrannus” Ancient Greece was one of the first civilizations to use writing as a form of literary and personal expression. Heroes and heroism were central to Greek literature as well as art and religion. Karen Rosenberg wrote in the New York Times, “The ancient Greeks did not require perfection of their heroes, only greatness. They would certainly recognize some of our heroic figures (trapped miners, soldiers, quick-thinking pilots), but not our shock at the personal conduct of others (sports stars, politicians). Greek heroes misbehaved frequently, and when they did it was a matter to be settled between the hero and the gods.” It is interesting to think about the different ways a character is seen in literature and how their actions shape them into who they are, as well what leads them to make the choices they make. We can all agree on the characteristics that a hero usually has, and what he or she has to do in order to be seen as a hero by others, but in some cases, heroes can actually be the villains, or even the victims. These variations can be seen as time passes or when impacting events occur to a character. We can also see differences with characters in two completely different stories or scenarios. This is something that a writer can do to create some contrast in their works, while at the same time keeping a constant familiarity with characters that the reader can remember as well as relate to. Sophocles was a master of tragedy, in “Antigone” and “Oedipus Tyrannus,” both part of his Theban Plays, we can see great tragedy for both of the main characters, and they both defied the law in order to become a hero, or to save themselves. Also, we meet Creon, he appears in both plays and he has two completely different personalities in each, yet they are both related. It is interesting to see how each character handles each situation and how their character traits vary in each of the plays. The plays have some major differences, but they have one similarity that ties their main characters together, which is them both being born tragic heroes.

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The differences between the characters is their flaws, and good characteristics. Though Antigone and Oedipus lived completely different lives, their lives ended in a very tragic way. There are a few terrible things that happen to the people in Oedipus’ family, including deaths, dethrones, incest, murder. It is known that tragedy is a constant part of this family, so it is not unreasonable to assume that they are cursed. However, even though this is a reasonable theory, it is not completely true. It is not a curse that leads this family to misery, but a common character trait. Each of the characters in these two plays try to disobey a supreme authority, whether it is of the gods, a king, or the moral law. Because of the many terrible things that happen to the members of Oedipus's family, a reader might be led to believe that there is some sort of a curse on Oedipus. However, if we carefully analyze the stories of Oedipus The King and Antigone, we will find that the reason so many tragedies happened to Oedipus's family is not because of some curse, but rather because they broke a rule against a supreme authority. The two stories provide great opportunity for the mind to begin making comparisons of the characters' ignorance to reality, selfish pride, and selfinflicted end or death. . In Oedipus Tyrannus and Antigone, each person goes against authority in different ways. Oedipus and Jocasta both defy the authority of the gods by trying to run away from a prophecy, which results in Jocasta's death and Oedipus's dethroning and downfall. Antigone defies the authority of the king by violating his command not to bury her siblings, which results in her death as well as the death of other important characters to Creon. Creon, Oedipus’ brother in law appears in both of these plays and in each he had different duties, beliefs and personalities. Creon’s presence and his words are so crucial to many parts of the plays that cannot be ignored. He represents the very real power of human law and of the

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human need for a stable society that is in order and has laws. Only in the final scene of Oedipus the King, when Creon shows his intentions on exiling Oedipus and separating him from his children, we see Creon’s true colors and what really wanted this whole time, the title of king. Creon's character has a great number of glitches in his personality, but his excessive pride was the root of his problems. His pride leads him to make accusations, before he considers the wise advice of others. This is seen in Antigone, because Creon’s pride prevents him from listening to what everyone else had to say. He thought he was doing the right thing, and the fair thing for the city, and by the time he realized the mistake he made, he already lost everything. Antigone is more of a threat to Creon, since she already knew her fate and thought she had nothing to lose by standing up to him. These characters ultimately bring about their own demise, Antigone dying speaking up to her brother and Oedipus being exiled after stabbing his own eyes. In Ismene's (Antigone’s sister) case, the authority that is disobeyed is that of the moral law, and for that she has to live the rest of her life with guilt and regret. In Oedipus the King, Creon seems like a very reasonable and understanding character. Oedipus is feeling very angry at himself and disappointed for marrying his mother and killing his father. Creon maintains his calm when Oedipus begs to be banished from Thebes, Creon protects Oedipus. By the end of the tragedy, Creon proves himself sensible and responsible. In the last scene of Oedipus the King, Creon also shows himself to be quite forgiving. Rather than mocking Oedipus, who has just accused him of some pretty terrible things, Creon is understanding and caring. He brings the mutilated and grieving Oedipus inside, away from the public eye and also promises to care for his children. In the end, it is only when Oedipus asks that Creon banishes him from Thebes. At the end of the play, however, we can see that he is more than willing to

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accept the power after Oedipus's terrible fate has been revealed. Even then, he carefully makes sure to listen to what the gods are saying, rather than to trying to resist fate as Oedipus has done. In this case, we might think of Oedipus as a hero, for trying to break the prophecy and change his life, but this would have consequences. We sympathize for him because he begs to be exiled from the city, and he even blinds himself so he cannot see what he has done. However, Oedipus is quite arrogant, and that is one of the main flaws he has that keep him from being considered a hero. He always states how everyone knows him and how famous he is. Oedipus is also quick to accuse. When Teiresias says “I say that you are the murder whom you seek” (Sophocles), Oedipus accuses him of “spitting out infamy”. He was very quick to accuse Teiresias of telling him outrageous things that weren’t true. He also accuses Creon of plotting against him to take his throne. He states “do you think I do not know that you plotted to kill me, plotted to steal my throne?” (Sophocles) He didn’t have any proof that he was plotting against him, he just assumed. Oedipus also gets angry very easily. When he hears something that is potentially upsetting, or he doesn’t like it, he blows up. An example of this is when Teiresias told him that he was wasting his time searching for that murderer of the king. Oedipus said that whatever he said was worthless. He also gets angry with Creon when they were discussing who would rule the city. Creon told him that they should have equal power, but he did not agree. Even though Oedipus has flaws, he also has some good characteristics about him. Oedipus actually felt bad for the murder of the old king, and he spent a lot of time looking for this man. In the play, he states “I pray the favor of justice” (Sophocles) Oedipus prayed to the gods that justice would be served. In the prologue of the play he says to the people “poor children! You may be sure I know that you longed for in your coming here, I know that you are deathly sick; and yet as sick as you are, not one is as sick as I. each of you suffers in himself alone his anguish, not others; but my

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spirit groans for the city, for myself, for you.”(Sophocles) He told the people “his spirit groans for them” meaning he has sympathy for them. Like her parents, Antigone goes against a powerful authority. Unlike her parents though, that authority is not of the gods, but rather of a person who thinks he is a god: Creon, Antigone's uncle, great-uncle, and king. He proclaims that the body of Polyneices, Antigone's brother who fought against Thebes in war, would be left to rot unburied on the field, Creon went against the gods as well. His law fobbing the burial of Polynices shows disrespect and dishonor to the gods. Creon declared, “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!” (Sophocles). Antigone, is enraged by the injustice done to her family so she ignores Creon's direct order and buries her brother. By defying Creon's command, she essentially defies his total authority as king. Antigone also has a few negative characteristics to her personality. One of them being her stubbornness. In the play, she was sentenced to death because she went against Creon and broke the law by burying her brother. So, out of stubbornness, she committed suicide by hanging herself in the jail. Antigone wasn’t going to let the king kill her for something she thought was the right thing to do. Another flaw that Antigone has was being too confident. When she was caught breaking the law, and had to go speak to Creon, she was very unafraid and surprisingly prideful, ultimately she was proud of her actions, because she believed it to be the right thing, she didn’t feel guilty about the crime she committed. When Creon questioned her about her

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crime, she didn’t deny anything he asked her. She says “I do. I deny nothing,” (Sophocles). Another important flaw she has is being unable to compromise with. When her sister, Ismene, tries to receive the same punishment she is getting. Antigone refuses to let her, because she thinks that she didn’t do anything wrong. Ismene thought she should be punished because she simply knew about what her sister was planning to do. So, since Ismene knew about what Antigone was going to do, and didn’t stop her, it was fair that Ismene was equally guilty. In the play “Antigone”, Sophocles at first portrays Creon as a fair leader. By the end of the play Creon’s excessive pride, has taken over him, which leads to his downfall. He does not realize how bad his pride has interfered with his decisions until Teiresias, the blind prophet comes to warn him and by then it is too late. We can see a connection between Creon’s son in Antigone and the reasonable Creon that spoke to Oedipus and helped him in his time of misery. Creon’s son in Antigone is trying to do just that, and warn his father that he shouldn’t kill Antigone. Creon is full of pride and ambition at the start, however, by the end of the play, Creon suffers the wrath of the gods, and ends as nothing with nothing, since his wife, his own son, and his son’s soon to be wife all killed themselves because of him. The first impression of the younger Creon is he very religious. He is also obedient to his friend and former 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. Maybe Creon becoming king was the reason he turned out to be such a tyrant. These major flaws in his character are the cause of his tragedy. In Oedipus the King Creon demonstrates his compassion and forgiveness, by helping Oedipus even after Oedipus called him a traitor and conspirator. His sympathy for Oedipus shows that Creon is not heartless, at this point in his life. However, it is very clear to see this

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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. Creon’s character transforms from a man with good judgment to an egotistic king. In Oedipus Tyrannus, the fact that Oedipus sent him to ask Apollo for advice on saving the city, is evidence that Creon is a man of respect and honor. His compassion for Oedipus proves that he is not revengeful. Creon seeking the gods will for deciding what do with Oedipus confirm he has good rational judgment. In Antigone, Creon’s law forbidding the burial of Polynices shows disrespect and dishonor to the gods. He is careless for Antigone’s life and even the life of his son, this proves he is revengeful. Creon refusal to listen to his son’s or his advisors confirms his lack of judgment. The plays Antigone and Oedipus The king have some major differences, but they have one similarity that ties their main characters together, which is them both being born tragic heroes. The differences between the characters is their flaws, and good characteristics. Though Antigone and Oedipus lived completely different lives, both their lives ended in a very tragic way as they were both trying to make a better life for themselves or save other loved ones in the process. We also see Creon and his different character traits. In Sophocles’ Theban Plays: Oedipus Tyrannus and Antigone Creon’s character goes through a great change throughout his life. Creon goes from being a respectable, honorable man with good judgment, to a disrespectable, dishonorable, king.

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Sources: Meineck, Peter, and Paul Woodruff. "Antigone." Sophocles: The Theban Plays. Hackett, 2003. 304. Print. Meineck, Peter, and Paul Woodruff. "Oedipus Tyrannus." Sophocles: The Theban Plays. Hackett, 2003. 304. Print. Karen Rosenberg, New York Times, October 21, 2010 Hays, Jeffrey. "ANCIENT GREEK CULTURE AND LITERATURE." Facts and Details. 2008. Web. Last Updated: January 2012...