In the Sophocles’ plays of Antigone and Oedipus the King, power plays a central role. In Antigone the power and corruption of King Creon dominate the play. Likewise, in Oedipus the King. Oedipus was also corrupted by power during his kingship. Both these kings were tyrannical, specifically when others would disagree with him or disobey their orders. In these Sophocles plays power inevitably corrupts leaders, as seen in both Antigone and Oedipus the King.
The tyrannical nature of Creon during Antigone is interesting. This is due to his rational behavior during Oedipus, preceding his leadership. When Oedipus was the King of Thebes, he acted irrational and tyrannical. Oedipus constantly worried that someone was trying to overthrow him. He particularly …show more content…
While one does not get to see what Oedipus’s rationale and overall demeanor was like before he became king, the readers of these plays can see king Creon before and during his position of leadership. When Oedipus was king, and Creon was without power, Creon was a fairly level minded character. He acknowledged and confronted Oedipus when he was acting tyrannical and ridiculous. This was fairly ironic because he acted in the same way in dealing with issues, particularly issues that challenged his authority, in …show more content…
There was a prophecy for Oedipus that said he was to kill his father and then marry his mother, who he believed to be king and queen of Corinth. However, he was actually the child of King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes. The queen tried to have Oedipus killed when he was a baby so the prophecy could not be fulfilled. Then, a messenger ended up giving him to King Polybus of Corinth. Thinking these were the parents he was intended to kill he left Corinth and when he got to a three road crossing, he ran into men who he felt tried to run him off the road. So Oedipus killed them, it turned out the ma Oedipus had killed was Laius and his biological father. He was hailed the King of Thebes, without realizing what he had done. Oedipus had his fate determined before he was born, and therefore had less control of his downfall than Creon did. Nonetheless, he did contribute with his reactions as the play
The tyrannical nature of Creon during Antigone is interesting. This is due to his rational behavior during Oedipus, preceding his leadership. When Oedipus was the King of Thebes, he acted irrational and tyrannical. Oedipus constantly worried that someone was trying to overthrow him. He particularly …show more content…
While one does not get to see what Oedipus’s rationale and overall demeanor was like before he became king, the readers of these plays can see king Creon before and during his position of leadership. When Oedipus was king, and Creon was without power, Creon was a fairly level minded character. He acknowledged and confronted Oedipus when he was acting tyrannical and ridiculous. This was fairly ironic because he acted in the same way in dealing with issues, particularly issues that challenged his authority, in …show more content…
There was a prophecy for Oedipus that said he was to kill his father and then marry his mother, who he believed to be king and queen of Corinth. However, he was actually the child of King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes. The queen tried to have Oedipus killed when he was a baby so the prophecy could not be fulfilled. Then, a messenger ended up giving him to King Polybus of Corinth. Thinking these were the parents he was intended to kill he left Corinth and when he got to a three road crossing, he ran into men who he felt tried to run him off the road. So Oedipus killed them, it turned out the ma Oedipus had killed was Laius and his biological father. He was hailed the King of Thebes, without realizing what he had done. Oedipus had his fate determined before he was born, and therefore had less control of his downfall than Creon did. Nonetheless, he did contribute with his reactions as the play