Oedipus in Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus the King and Kreon in Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone are two kings of the same city, Thebes. These two main characters rule the city in two different periods with different needs. Oedipus has to face the plague that is weakening Thebes. Kreon, on the other hand, has to deal with the issues of the city right after Oedipus’s departure. Despite their completely different ways of leading, Oedipus impulsive and emotional, Kreon more calm and logical, both of them try their best to protect the kingdom, and take responsibilities for previous mistakes. It is important to understand that, consequentially to their mistakes, the two kings, Oedipus in Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus the King and Kreon in Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone, remain alone without a family and cannot do anything else besides accepting their tragic ends.
The first big difference between the two leaders is the way in which they start to rule Thebes. Oedipus is traveling and finds himself in front of the Sphinx, a creature part human, part lion. The Sphinx eats every traveler who cannot solve her riddle. When …show more content…
Just as like his brother in law, Kreon does not follow in time the advice of Tiresias to bury the body of Polyneikes, in order for him to not being punished by the gods. Before this episode, Kreon has an important dialog with his son Haimon, who tries to change his father’s mind about the sentence of Antigone, future bride of Haimon. However, the king is still on the opinion in which the woman must die, cruelly, “at once in his presence. Let him watch, this bridegroom, as she’s killed beside him” (Antigone, 767). This strong response is given to understand the importance of following the rules which is mandatory for Kreon. He does not even forgive a family member, a sign of responsibility towards Thebes’s kingdom and equality among all
The first big difference between the two leaders is the way in which they start to rule Thebes. Oedipus is traveling and finds himself in front of the Sphinx, a creature part human, part lion. The Sphinx eats every traveler who cannot solve her riddle. When …show more content…
Just as like his brother in law, Kreon does not follow in time the advice of Tiresias to bury the body of Polyneikes, in order for him to not being punished by the gods. Before this episode, Kreon has an important dialog with his son Haimon, who tries to change his father’s mind about the sentence of Antigone, future bride of Haimon. However, the king is still on the opinion in which the woman must die, cruelly, “at once in his presence. Let him watch, this bridegroom, as she’s killed beside him” (Antigone, 767). This strong response is given to understand the importance of following the rules which is mandatory for Kreon. He does not even forgive a family member, a sign of responsibility towards Thebes’s kingdom and equality among all