Antigone And Oedipus Rex Final Essay

Teiresias, a prophet used in Sophocles plays, once said to Oedipus “I say that with those you love best you live in foulest shame unconsciously and do not see where you are in calamity,” (Sophocles, 410). Teiresias spoke this to Oedipus in an attempt to influence into baring witness to the truth that hides behind his true family line. Oedipus in Oedipus The King was the father and brother to Antigone, Ismene, Polyneices, and Eteocles. Although Oedipus was unaware of the truth, his choices set him up for his banishment and blindness; with this, one can infer that with poor judgment comes poor decisions. Poor decision-making led three very important characters in the plays written by Sophocles to their downfall. Oedipus, Creon, and Ismene were all brought to their lonesome deaths due to the foolish and abrupt actions they chose to make.

When Antigone went against Creons decree, she triggered a lot of people, including herself, to become hurt and involved in mayhem. In response to the actions that Antigone had committed, Creon made an attempt to hurt her more by threatening her sister, Ismene; “Arrest Ismene. I accuse her equally. Bring her sniffling in the house there,” (Sophocles, 388). Ismene was almost punished severely due to being involved in the plot to bury Polyneices, their brother. Although Creon forbade this, Antigones religious values made her become disobedient to the new laws that Creon had fabricated. While Ismene was given back her freedom, Creons threat to put her to death shows just how severe the consequences could have been.

Haimon, Antigones fiancé and Creons son, was also severely punished for the actions Antigone made. Due to his father’s ruthlessness, Antigone had killed herself in the tomb that became her ...

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...ne can infer that no matter what a person should come across, they should always reach for the better or more moral option when making a decision. Oedipus should not have killed his father even if he was unaware of the relationship, and he should not have let his pride get in the way of making better decisions; this ties into the mistakes that Creon made instead of being a more rational king, father, and uncle to his family and city. Although Antigone was following her religious beliefs, she should have articulated her thoughts to Creon, and come to a more rational decision rather than committing a conscious crime. Tony Robbins once said, “It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.” When Oedipus, Antigone, and Creon made these decisions, they were shaping their own future; this is why morals exist today, to influence good thoughts and actions.