Measuring up to Oedipus
By Creon’s time, Thebes had experienced its share of great leaders. There was the titanic Oedipus, who saved the city from the curse of the Sphynx. After that, Oedipus’ son, the infallible Etocles, held the city strong against the invading armies. Both of these mighty leaders paid deep costs for their success. Scandal and death dethroned them both. This left the city in the hands of another, Creon. He was both a brother in law and uncle to Oedipus. He was a staid lawmaker, not a hero. This drove him to paranoia as he felt the people would see him as inferior to Oedipus. He tried to act big. He needed to make grand, cruel, decisions, to secure his people’s respect. Creon believed his only option was to rule by fear in Thebes, least he be compared unfavorably to Oedipus.
Oedipus was a confident, strong, and brave hero which made him a poster boy for what the people …show more content…
He was considered unpredictable, inconsistent, and dangerous. Nobody was willing to tell him the truth. Consequently, he became desperate. Some twisted logic made him believe that if he was harsher, the people would trust him. He issued harsh edicts, such as preventing the burial of Polynices: “He must be left unburied, his corpse carrion for the birds and dogs to tear, an obscenity for the citizens to behold!” (Antigone, 68). He thought the people would respect him if he showed that “Never at my hands will the traitor be honored above the patriot.” (Antigone, 68). These actions were a pitiful mimic of Oedipus, a demonstration of Creon trying to be something he wasn’t. They showed that Creon wanted to be the new Oedipus. He felt that the only way to rule was to try to become a “hero.” However, his definition of hero was convoluted. He believed that a hero must make horrific, far-reaching, decisions. In the end, his mandates come back to haunt him. Antigone defies these orders, forcing Creon to let loose even more punishments upon
By Creon’s time, Thebes had experienced its share of great leaders. There was the titanic Oedipus, who saved the city from the curse of the Sphynx. After that, Oedipus’ son, the infallible Etocles, held the city strong against the invading armies. Both of these mighty leaders paid deep costs for their success. Scandal and death dethroned them both. This left the city in the hands of another, Creon. He was both a brother in law and uncle to Oedipus. He was a staid lawmaker, not a hero. This drove him to paranoia as he felt the people would see him as inferior to Oedipus. He tried to act big. He needed to make grand, cruel, decisions, to secure his people’s respect. Creon believed his only option was to rule by fear in Thebes, least he be compared unfavorably to Oedipus.
Oedipus was a confident, strong, and brave hero which made him a poster boy for what the people …show more content…
He was considered unpredictable, inconsistent, and dangerous. Nobody was willing to tell him the truth. Consequently, he became desperate. Some twisted logic made him believe that if he was harsher, the people would trust him. He issued harsh edicts, such as preventing the burial of Polynices: “He must be left unburied, his corpse carrion for the birds and dogs to tear, an obscenity for the citizens to behold!” (Antigone, 68). He thought the people would respect him if he showed that “Never at my hands will the traitor be honored above the patriot.” (Antigone, 68). These actions were a pitiful mimic of Oedipus, a demonstration of Creon trying to be something he wasn’t. They showed that Creon wanted to be the new Oedipus. He felt that the only way to rule was to try to become a “hero.” However, his definition of hero was convoluted. He believed that a hero must make horrific, far-reaching, decisions. In the end, his mandates come back to haunt him. Antigone defies these orders, forcing Creon to let loose even more punishments upon