Creon vs. Creon
In Oedipus the King, Sophocles, the author, describes the journey of a man by the name of Oedipus to doom himself and those around him by trying to avoid fate. In Antigone, another work of Sophocles, one’s search of power and ruthlessness allows impudence to destroy those close to him. In both of these ancient and Greek works, Creon, one of the main characters in both of these stories, turns from Oedipus’ advisor who claims to have no desire for kingship to an impudent ruler who governs with a stubborn blindness similar to Oedipus’. In two of Sophocles’ Greek works titled Oedipus the King and Antigone, Creon’s character is shown through foreshadowing and situational and verbal irony.
In Oedipus the King, Creon states he has no desire for power: “But once a king, all hedged in by constraint. How could I suit myself with power and sovereignty as now…” (Sophocles 33). In this piece of text, Creon affirms that he does not wish to have power and rule over Thebes. But later in the play, Creon seems quite eager to grasp power when he has the opportunity to do so. Near the end of the play, Creon assists Oedipus by carrying out his demands. He says, “If I could only touch them with my hands…just touch them, please, you generous-hearted prince, and think them in my arms as when I saw…Don’t tell me it’s my two darlings crying! Has Creon pitied me and sent me all my heart’s desire?” (Sophocles 78). This is foreshadowing because in the beginning of this text, Oedipus hints at wishing to “see” his daughters again and by the time he’s done with this, Creon had already brought in his sobbing daughters. By assisting Oedipus in his last hours, Creon prepares to become king. This is because Creon wishes to leave a good reputation with the city of Thebes and towards all of its inhabitants. He could rather just kill Oedipus as he had previously requested (“Expel me quickly, purge me far from Thebes to where no human voice is heard.”)(Sophocles 76). But...