Oedipus and Antigone - 2785 Words

Truth in the Eyes of Justice Greek theater encompassed many aspects that reflected the moral values and ideals of society. Their customs were tightly woven into the scripts of plays. Antigone and Oedipus the King, two renowned works of the Greek playwright Sophocles, explore these values through a plot thick with corruption, virtue, and determination. These plays reveal the burdens two Theban kings, Oedipus and Creon, as their lies and poor judgment corrode the integrity of their city, their families and themselves. Possessing a strong faith in their respective gods, the characters of these Greek plays are often led astray as they try to escape the twisted hand of fate, further warping their perception of reality. As their vain†¦show more content†¦When the blind prophet tells him that his decision will destroy him, he agrees to diverge from his original decree. However, he finds it too late for†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"dreadful is the mysterious power of fate, there is no deliverance from it by wealth or by war, by fenced city, or dark, sea-beaten ships† (Sophocles 138). Creon’s defiance leaves his family in ruins. His own son, Haemon, tries to kill him for taking the life of his bride. Unable to kill Creon, Haemon turns his sword upon himself. Creon’s wife, Eurydice, then kills herself unable to bear the loss of her son. Creon’s refusal to be a just leader destroys him completely, showing man’s inability to escape from their atrocious acts. There is little difference between roles of fate and karma. Fate dooms from the beginning and karma acts as the hand of justice delivering a fate fit for their crimes. In desperation, the people of Greece turned to the gods for salvation. The gods offer strict rules and morals to which the characters of Oedipus the King and Antigone adhere. The people of ancient Greece allow the gods to govern many aspects of their lives. Their fate, destiny, and the right to rule fall into the hands of their gods. All problems or questions are presented to the gods in prayer and answered through an oracle or prophet. Their wisdom is nearly absolute and their decrees are the unwritten law. Sophocles develops his characters toShow MoreRelatedOedipus The King And Antigone1264 Words   |  6 Pagestragic plays: Oedipus the King and Antigone. The end of Oedipus the King was the beginning of Antigone. Oedipus the King is one of the strongest tragic Drama as it tells a serious story which evokes fear and pity through incidents that put sympathetic characters in threat and Oedipus the tragic protagonist (the king) who suffer more than he deserved. Although, Antigone resemble Oedipus the King in many faces such as it is a tragic Drama, also it has two tragic protagonists, Antigone and Creon. BothRead MoreOedipus The King And Antigone948 Words   |  4 Pageswill eludes us in works such as Oedipus the King and Antigone. Oedipus, Creon, Antigone, and Tiresias are characters in these epics whose lives represented the battle of truth and wisdom. Oedipus attempted to escape the prophecy in which he killed his own father and married his mother. He hastily discovered his past while trying to cure his city, and his efforts to change his fate fail when the prophecy is realized. His daughter Antigone wanted revenge after Oedipus’ death. Creon would not bury herRead MoreOedipus The King And Antigone1909 Words   |  8 Pagestragedies, Oedipus the King and Antigone. The plays are written in a series falling into the same setting. Oedipus and Creon both deal with being rulers in contrasting styles and we can see their true characteristics when stressful situations arise during their respective reigns. Oedipus is portr ayed as a strong, yet fair ruler to his citizens. However, when Creon obtains power soon after, he embodies conflicting ideals and looks to serve his personal ego. Unlike Creon from Sophocles’ Antigone, OedipusRead MoreOedipus Rex Vs. Antigone1417 Words   |  6 PagesDaniel Nierenberg Comparative Essay 11-20-01 Oedipus Rex Antigone It is only natural that an author use similar vessels of literature, such as figurative language, literary devices, and elements in his/her work. It is even more apparent between works that are connected by character, time, and theme. Sophocles did this when he wrote Oedipus Rex and Antigone. When comparing the two pieces, it becomes evident that very similar vessels connected these very different plays. Sophocles uses aRead MoreComparing Creon, Antigone, And Oedipus1318 Words   |  6 Pagesdetermination; however, success is discarded by personal gain. Creon, Antigone, and Oedipus have different personalities and roles, but they also share similarities. Oedipus and Creon were two different types of rulers where the transition into power had effected them and had an infringement of prophecies. While Antigone was never in a leadership role all three show acts of pride she has some similarities with Creon and Oedipus in the fight within oneself. The pride allows civil laws to be createdRead MoreComparing Oedipus The King And Antigone1311 Words   |  6 Pagesanalyzing both Oedipus the King and Antigone, Oedipus and Antigone are very alike in ways. When reading these plays, the mind is wired to compare how the protagonists are alike, and contrast how they are different. Antigone and Oedipus are idolized by the people, but the legacy of Oedipus seems to have been altered due to the fac t that he has experienced bad past family relationships; therefore as Gale explains, â€Å"Antigone hangs herself. Creon’s son Haemon, who was in love with Antigone, commits suicideRead MoreAnalysis Of Oedipus The King And Antigone1170 Words   |  5 Pagesever- changing world. In civilizations such as Athens, women were looked down upon and this battle to leave behind tradition proved to be almost if not fatal. Sophocles Oedipus the King and Antigone exemplify three distinct female Athenian characters who approach this battle with different fronts. Through analysis of Ismene, Antigone and Jocasta’s distinct characters, the reader better understands how Sophocles uses a feminine voice to break away from the tradition discerned in Athenian life to advocateRead MoreCorruption In Oedipus The King And Antigone988 Words   |  4 Pages In Sophocles’ Oedipus The King and Antigone, Sophocles used two tragic stories to explore issues and themes involving that can b e interpreted in several ways depending on the readers understanding of the play and the main theme in focus. From a personal view point, themes such as corruption, injustice, civil disobedience and power drunkenness were explored rampantly by Sophocles to further dramatize a story that conveys so much messages. The ancient Greeks are well recognized for gifting the modernRead MoreAntigone, By Sophocles, The King And Oedipus1465 Words   |  6 Pagesplays: Oedipus the King, Oedipus of Colonus and Antigone. Oedipus the King and Oedipus of Colonus were written in a very male-focused manner. Throughout these plays, Sophocles’ main characters and main plots are written around Oedipus, Creon, Polynices, Tiresias, Theseus and very few spotlight is given to the female figures such as Jocasta, Antigone, Ismene, and Euridice. After Oedipus the King and Oedipus Colonus, Antigone comes into play in a protagonist role. Sophocles’ play, Antigone, representsRead MoreSummary Of Oedipus, Antigone And Polphocles1707 Words   |  7 PagesOedipus, Antigone’s father, had four children: Antigone, Ismene, Eteocles and Polynices. After Oedipus’ death, the two sons were meant to share the rulership of their town, Thebes, alternating between the two of them, starting with the elder, Et eocles. He then refused to pass the power on to his brother, who consequentially gathered foreign forces and launched an attack on his brother and the city, in which the brothers killed each other. Creon, Antigone’s uncle, immediately became king and ordered