The Oedipus Cycle is a collection of three plays written by Sophocles, a world renowned playwright who lived 1500 years ago. The first of these plays, Oedipus Rex, includes a main character named Oedipus, who became king of Thebes after fleeing his home to escape a prophecy. The final play, Antigone, is centered around a new king Creon, who automatically became king when Oedipus’ sons killed each other, and his son’s fiancee Antigone. Oedipus and Creon are affected by the judgement and evaluation of society in their respective plays, and this judgement ultimately leads to their downfalls, however this is not the case for every character.
Oedipus, in Oedipus Rex, is hugely affected by the public and how the public views him, which is the direct …show more content…
The city of Thebes is slowly crumbling from the plague. In the beginning of the play, a priest comes to Oedipus with a plea for help and salvation from sickness, and an oracle saying that the city will be healthy again when the killer of an old king Laios is dead. (7) Placing all hope in Oedipus, the priest says, “Noblest of men, restore/life to your city!” Think how all men call you / Liberator for your triumph long ago / Ah, when your years of kingship are remembered / Let them not say We rose, but later fell -- / Keep the State from going down in the storm” (5). Oedipus is heavily critiqued and judged by society. The line “Think how all men call you; Liberator for your triumph long ago” refers to the amount of judgement Oedipus is put under. If Thebes fails, Oedipus will be viewed as a failure, but if the city is free from plague, he will be seen as a hero. However, this is not the only pressure Oedipus is put under. As a child, Oedipus was cursed by a prophecy which stated that he would kill his …show more content…
After a brutal rebellion and the death of both heirs Eteocles and Polyneices, Creon assumed the throne by default. Since the rebellion had just ended, his crown was very precarious and he had to maintain a good reputation with the public to prevent future rebellion. In doing this, he says, “Nevertheless, I say to you at the very outset that I have nothing but contempt for the kind of Governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is best for the State / and as for the man who sets private friendship above the public welfare, - I have no use for him, either” (196-197). He tries to assure the public that he is a good ruler and will work for the people. The fact that this is the first thing he says as ruler to the people shows the importance of having a good reputation as well as the power of judgement by the people. Following this declaration, Creon issued an edict that forbade the burial of anyone who he views as dishonorable and unworthy of a proper funeral. However, Antigone broke this law by burying her brother, Polyneices, who was deemed undeserving of a burial. After being told multiple times by his son Haimon, the public, and the prophet Teiresias that his rule was ridiculous and uncivil, Creon refuses to rescind it, and sends Antigone to her death. He says, “Do you want me to show myself weak
Oedipus, in Oedipus Rex, is hugely affected by the public and how the public views him, which is the direct …show more content…
The city of Thebes is slowly crumbling from the plague. In the beginning of the play, a priest comes to Oedipus with a plea for help and salvation from sickness, and an oracle saying that the city will be healthy again when the killer of an old king Laios is dead. (7) Placing all hope in Oedipus, the priest says, “Noblest of men, restore/life to your city!” Think how all men call you / Liberator for your triumph long ago / Ah, when your years of kingship are remembered / Let them not say We rose, but later fell -- / Keep the State from going down in the storm” (5). Oedipus is heavily critiqued and judged by society. The line “Think how all men call you; Liberator for your triumph long ago” refers to the amount of judgement Oedipus is put under. If Thebes fails, Oedipus will be viewed as a failure, but if the city is free from plague, he will be seen as a hero. However, this is not the only pressure Oedipus is put under. As a child, Oedipus was cursed by a prophecy which stated that he would kill his …show more content…
After a brutal rebellion and the death of both heirs Eteocles and Polyneices, Creon assumed the throne by default. Since the rebellion had just ended, his crown was very precarious and he had to maintain a good reputation with the public to prevent future rebellion. In doing this, he says, “Nevertheless, I say to you at the very outset that I have nothing but contempt for the kind of Governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is best for the State / and as for the man who sets private friendship above the public welfare, - I have no use for him, either” (196-197). He tries to assure the public that he is a good ruler and will work for the people. The fact that this is the first thing he says as ruler to the people shows the importance of having a good reputation as well as the power of judgement by the people. Following this declaration, Creon issued an edict that forbade the burial of anyone who he views as dishonorable and unworthy of a proper funeral. However, Antigone broke this law by burying her brother, Polyneices, who was deemed undeserving of a burial. After being told multiple times by his son Haimon, the public, and the prophet Teiresias that his rule was ridiculous and uncivil, Creon refuses to rescind it, and sends Antigone to her death. He says, “Do you want me to show myself weak