How Is Creon A Foil To Oedipus

More importantly, Oedipus realized that it was his pride that lead him to kill King Laius. Moreover, another example of Oedipus’ hubris is when he accuses Creon of plotting to overthrow him. “Creon, the soul of trust, my loyal friend from the start steals against me...so hungry to overthrow me he sets his wizard on me, this scheming quack, this fortune-teller peddling lies, eyes peeled for his own profit-seer blind in his craft!” (279). To put it differently, Oedipus is saying that Creon wants to steal the throne and he will go as far to consult an oracle to come and deceive Oedipus. This example is of great importance because it is Oedipus’ pride that causes him to accuses Creon of trying to steal his throne.

Creon has more of a reserved personality. He likes to discuss things in private and talk things over before discussing information with the general public. When Creon brings word from Apollo that the murderer of King Laius must be punished, there is a short discussion between Oedipus and Creon about whether or not to publicly announce Apollo’s declaration.

In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus believes Tiresias and Creon are working together to overthrow him. During this time Creon gives a prolonged speech, how he doesn’t want to be the King, but in Antigone, Creon is seen as a unswaying sovereign, unwilling to listen to anyone. Creon is likewise blinded by his own corruption. His excessive pride gets the best of him. Antigone, Haemon, and Tiresias warn Creon

     At first glance, Oedipus and Creon are two very different people. But as time progresses their personalities and even their fates grow more and more similar. In Sophocles’s play “Oedipus the King”, Oedipus and Creon are two completely opposite people. Oedipus is brash and thoughtless, whilst Creon is wise and prudent. In “Oedipus the King”, Oedipus effectively portrays the idea of the classic “flawed hero”. He becomes arrogant and brash. He accuses Creon and Tiresias of treachery. Even worse however, Oedipus goes against the gods. This causes them to punish him severely. Creon is the exact antithesis of Oedipus. He thinks before he acts. Creon is wise and loyal. In Sophocles’ other

Creon, who is Iocasta’s brother, claims in Oedipus the King that he does not wish to have the power and responsibility of being king. Towards the beginning of Oedipus the King, Oedipus has announced that Creon is to be banished from Thebes. Oedipus was exiling Creon because he said that Creon and Tiresias were trying

He thinks everything through with intelligence and reason. For example, as Oedipus rants, Creon stays calm and collected instead of firing back. When Oedipus says Creon is plotting against him, he tells Oedipus “No. Reason it out, as I have done. Think of this first: Would any sane man prefer power, with all a king’s anxieties, to that same power and the grace of sleep. Certainly not I.” In Oedipus at Colonus he is much more ambitious. He decides things quickly and irrationally.  For instance, he kidnaps Oedipus’s daughters when Oedipus denies to return to Thebes and when the chorus threatens him he says “Your city will have war if you hurt

Creon can walk on the street and everyone respects him, and all of them thank him for everything he does, but he will never be blamed, because all the decisions are made by the king. Creon enjoys the power, and every night he can still sleep well because he does not have to deal with all the problems. At the end of the conversation between Creon and Oedipus, Creon is sure that he did not betray anyone, and he is willing to be killed if any evidence is found.

As an advisor, Creon remained calm even in times of tension. When Oedipus accuses Creon of treason and attempting to usurp the throne, Creon remains surprisingly unflustered. When Oedipus states, “I have found you contrary / And dangerous to me,” Creon remains composed and offers the simple question “How is it that you say I injured you?” (Sophocles 20). The quarrel continues and the entire time Oedipus insults and accuses Creon while Creon just absorbs the dialogue and remains collected. Also, at the end of the play, after Oedipus realizes the truth, Creon arrives to comfort Oedipus. Creon reminds Oedipus to have faith and “trust what the God answers” (51).

Creon makes a point that he has the sanity and self-control to know what he has. When Oedipus accused him of betrayal, he calmly argues, “Not at all. / Not if you see things calmly, rationally, / as I do” (lines 80-81). This directly contrasts with Oedipus, and relates to the central duality of sight vs blindness which is present

In the two plays written by Sophocles (Oedipus the King and Antigone),Creon displays hypocritical mannerisms in Antigone, the sequel of Oedipus Rex. In the First play of the Oedipus Cycle, Oedipus the King Creon acts humane wishing peace from the Gods and eluding controversy with their punishment of the plagues. He listens more than

He immediately declares that anyone who knows who the murderer should step forward and he forbids the people to have any association with the man, “If any man knows by whose hand Laios, son of Ladakos, met his death, I direct that man to tell me everything” (Sophocles 13). Oedipus never thinks twice about the decisions he makes. He quickly decides what is the right course of action and does so. This proves to be a key component to his downfall. Contrastly, Creon is a rule-follower and since Polyneices

Powerful men are treated differently, their faults hidden from public eye. In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Creon illustrates Oedipus’ irrationality and amplifies his losses by providing a foil to his character. Creon’s behavior before and after the revelations of the prophecy with respect to Oedipus reveal the unspoken weaknesses of the king.

Creon, through his lapse in judgement, and poor decisions brought upon his own downfall. While it is easier for the reader to be more sympathetic toward Oedipus in Oedipus the King, Creon demonstrated the remorse and suffering of a classic tragic hero. There were several factors that led to Creon’s downfall. Creon had self-destructive pride, impulsiveness, excessive stubbornness, and inability to accept other’s judgements and opinions. All of the factors leading to Creon’s downfall were self-inflicted, and were brought upon by Creon’s lapse in judgement and evaluation of the war’s aftermath.

Oedipus would not have chosen Creon for that position if he didn't have full faith in his intelligence and virtue. Creon was intelligent enough to realize the strength of truth, and the power that those who know it have. For that reason, when Creon heard the prophecy from the oracle at Delphi with Tiresias, he didn't blurt it out to everyone. He let Tiresias judge whether Oedipus should know or not, by letting him talk to Oedipus first. He understood the strength that the truth gave him, indicating his true worthiness of the gifts he received.

Creon, who depends on the government being obeyed, cannot think of a higher crime than anarchy. When learning how the two sons of Oedipus fought, one died fighting for his country, and the other who broke his exile and fought against his native city. Sickened by his doing, he wishes to lay with death as death has taken his family, but comfort in death will not come for him just yet, as he has to suffer through what he has done.