Oedipus Rex Versus Antigone Essay Example

In Oedipus Rex Sophocles uses Creon for a foil to Oedipus. In Antigone Sophocles uses Creon as the Greek tragic hero. In Oedipus Rex the character of Creon serves as a foil to Oedipus. Creon is portrayed as a rational, ethical, and dutiful leader who represents the need for a stable society. All the while Oedipus is portrayed as a rash, unreasonable, and overly confident king, who is constantly trying to keep up with his unavoidable fate. Creon shows his rationality when he replies to a question Oedipus asks by stating, "I don't know. And when I don't, I keep quiet" (line 635 page 670). This shows Creon's non-judgmental character and his desire to be just as a ruler. Creon also demonstrates that he is an ethical leader when he says, "Look, if you think crude, mindless stubbornness such a gift, you've lost your sense of balance" (line 615-616 page 669). Creon states this to Oedipus when Oedipus accuses Creon of being a traitor. Creon remains detached and does not over react to Oedipus's emotional outburst while and we get another glimpse of Oedipus's impetuous nature. Creon lastly shows his dutiful personality when he boldly states to Oedipus "Who in his right mind would rather rule and live in anxiety than sleep in peace?" (Line 654-655 page 670). This shows that Creon is an honorable man who follows his destiny to rule. This also once again points out Oedipus's flawed perspective.

In Antigone the character of Creon is used as the Greek tragic hero. A Greek tragic hero is basically a good and admirable person who falls from his high position because of an inner weakness, usually the sin of excessive pride, which causes him to equate himself with the gods or to ignore the laws of the gods. Creon fulfills the role of the Greek tragic hero because his character rapidly changes from one who is rational, ethical, and dutiful to one that is autocratic, unforgiving, and a misogynist. Creon's autocratic nature is shown when he says, "…she'll never escape, she and