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The themes in King Oedipus Rex
The themes in King Oedipus Rex
The themes in King Oedipus Rex
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In the play it was expected that sons would respect and honor their fathers by following their wishes. Creon implies this when he rhetorically asks Haemon why men want sons and states, “It’s so the boy will punish his father’s enemies/And reward his friends-- as his father would” (643-644). This shows that it was expected of sons to follow closely in their father’s footsteps. Creon reminds Haemon of this because of his differing opinion on Antigone. Creon believes women are inferior to men and are mostly for pleasure, which is why he demands that Haemon find a new bride and admit Antigone deserves death for disobeying him.
Creon addresses Antigone’s prayer to Zeus when he declares, “Who cares if she calls out “Zeus!”/And calls him her protector? I must keep my kin in line” (658-659). This statement reveals that Creon is not reverent to Zeus, despite his claims. Creon values retaining and proving his own power over showing respect to the gods, otherwise he would consider that the gods might actually side with Antigone and wish for her to survive due to her bravery. Instead, he sees her as a threat to his power and plans to execute her.
Creon’s argument is effective to an extent because if everyone did everything as they
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He then proceeds to say that while he agrees with him, he ought to share the views of the city, which he eagerly defends. In his argument he speaks for the city of Thebes, claiming that Antigone’s fate is extremely unfair and everyone is anguished over it. He encourages his father to show her some mercy by using a lifeboat metaphor, speaking of the sailor of the lifeboat. He claims, “It’s the same in a boat: if the sailor keeps the footline taut,/If he doesn’t give an inch, he’ll capsize” (715-716). This implies that Haemon believes their government cannot survive without showing leniency during challenging
Creon believes that his laws are absolute and must be followed above all else, even Divine Law. Therefore when Antigone, in accordance with divine law, goes against Creons edict by burying her brother she is forcefully imprisoned and sentenced to death by Creon. In Creons opening speech he says, “Of course you cannot know a man completely, his character, his principles, sense of judgment … Experience, there’s the test” (Sophocles, p. 67). How Creon handles Antigones unlawful actions serves as his first test as the new king of Thebes and ends up showing the Thebans a glimpse of his true nature, that of a tyrannical ruler. This can be seen again when Haemon comes to Creon with the hope of dissuading him from his current course of action. He does this by trying to make Creon understand that the citizens of Thebes don’t agree with his use of power and planned execution of Antigone. Again Creons authoritarian nature comes to light in his response to Haemon, “And is Thebes about to tell me how to rule… Am I to rule this land for others – or myself?” (Sophocles, p. 97). To which Haemon counters by saying that “its no city at all, owned by one man alone” (Sophocles, p. 97). Creon, being the tyrant he is, fails to heed the wisdom of his sons’ words, which ultimately leads to his downfall. Creon, like Machiavelli, believed that it was
Creon's insecurity blinds his ability to direct order in his country properly. After Antigone buried Polyneices Creon felt he needed to take a strong stand or people would think he would always be lenient toward criminals. However, to achieve this Creon felt he needed to take drastic action against Antigone. He once even said to his son, Haimon, who was about to marry Antigone, "The woman dies. I suppose she'll plead family ties. Well, let her. If I permit my own family to rebel, how shall I earn the world's obedience?" (19) This quote shows that Creon feels that to prove himself to the country he needs to earn the "world's obedience".
The hubris resonating throughout the play, ‘Antigone’ is seen in the characters of Creon and Antigone. Their pride causes them to act impulsively, resulting in their individual downfalls. In his opening speech, Creon makes his motives clear, that “no man who is his country’s enemy shall call himself my friend.” This part of his declaration was kept to the letter, as he refused burial for his nephew, Polynices. However, when the situation arises where it is crucial that Creon takes advice, he neglects the part of the speech where he says “a king... unwilling to seek advice is damned.” This results in Creon’s tragic undoing.
“The strength of a family, like the strength of an army is in its loyalty to each other.” This quote is by Mario puzo, the family. I think the meaning of this quote is “that you can never break up a family. The family is so strong like an army so it will be hard to break them up. This quote can be supported by “Antigone” because Antigone knew both of her brothers died and only one was able to be buried and honored just because he was in the military. Antigone wanted her other brother to be buried to so she did it herself. She did not want her family to be broken up like that. So she was fixing it.
" This indicates Creon’s decision to punish Antigone was not taken kindly by the gods, but his ego wouldn't allow him to solve that as shown by Haemon, which, again, contribute to his nemesis. This proves by how Creon’s stubbornness isn't liked by the gods establishing him as a tragic
Creon's character possesses an infinite number of glitches in his personality, but his excessive pride was the root of his problems. His pride leads him to make accusations, before he considers the wise advice of others. Creon's pride also fills him not just as a king superior to the Gods, but also a man superior to women. The issue of Antigone being condemned to die becomes more than just a person who disobeys Creon; instead, the punishment is given even more eagerly, because it is a woman who disobeys a man. Creon's intelligent son warns Creon the people of Thebes sympathize with Antigone, but Creon accuses Haemon of being a "woman's slave" (line 756). Even though he is suppose to be loyal to the state and her citizens, he defensively questions if "the town [is] to tell [him] how [he] ought to rule?"(Line 734)The Theban king is too prideful to obey even the wisest of prophets, blind Teresias, insisting that "the whole crew of seers are money-mad" (line 1055). Creon finally puts his pride aside and listens to the Chorus' wise advice. It is difficult even then, and he obeys only because he fears the punishment that he might receive. "To yield [for Creon] is terrible" (line 1095) meaning to swallow his pride and admit that he is wrong is a very difficult thing for him to do. When Creon loses his wife and son, Creon's pride disappears, and he admits that he made a terrible mistake by not listening to anyone's advice.
The character Antigone has been in conflict against Creon ever since he became the king of Thebes. Antigone would never let Creon's law about burying the body of Polyneices override her moral beliefs and her beliefs in the gods. “Zeus did not announce those laws to me, And justice
Creon's pride is that of a tyrant. He is inflexible and unyielding, unwilling throughout the play to listen to advice or Antigone. Creon’s love for the city-state cause him to abandon all other beliefs. He tries to enforce this upon the people of Thebes. He wants them to think that his laws should be followed before any other personal, moral, or religious belief. This is where the conflict of character occurs between Antigone and Creon. Antigone knows that the sacred laws held by heaven are far more important...
Third, Antigone is a wonderful example of a martyr. Her legacy will live on, and inspire many other rebels to stand up for their beliefs. Antigone dared to defy the King’s threat of death to bury her brother, and shows true family pride. The people take pity on Antigone, and feel that she should be let alone. Haemon, Creon's son and Antigone's betrothed, states how the people of Thebes feel. “On every side I hear voices of pity for this poor girl doomed to the cruelest death…for an honorable action-burying a brother who was killed in battle…has she not rather earned a crown of gold” (
In the greek tragedy Antigone , the author Sophocles conveys Antigone as the tragic hero because she arouses the most fear, she shows both good and bad which is a tragic hero characteristic and Antigone has the tragic flaw of loyalty to her family and to the gods.
He anxiously awaits the day when he can call Antigone his wife, but because she defies King Creon, she deprives him of that opportunity. At first, Haemon tries to be loyal to his father. He tells Creon that he supports his decision to execute Antigone. However, as the conversation continues, he reveals that the community members are starting to renounce Creon’s decision. As the pain of potentially losing his fiancé becomes too much, he also renounces his father’s decision, arguing that the Gods would not condone it. In an act against his father, Haemon hurries to the cave Antigone was exiled to, in hopes to save her, but instead finds her hanging from the veil she was supposed to wear on her wedding day. Instantly overwhelmed with grief, Haemon, “[bewails] the loss of his bride” (Sophocles 152). Similarly, to Ismene’s case, Haemon cannot picture himself living on Earth without Antigone by his side, and commits suicide. In Antigone’s desire to appease the Gods, she abandons her loved ones, and causes them great suffering. This could have been avoided has she not pursued her desire to bury
“Father, the gods instill good sense in man,”(line 776) Haemon begins with how he believes his father’s statements and actions, but with a twist. As the plot starts to build, you realize that it is all around Haemon and Creon’s relationship causing Haemon to build hatred toward his father, not listening to his city of Thebes. The theme is all based off loyalty and love, if one person trusts the other. Haemon confuses Creon through his actions and language to make him belief false statements, forming him into the tragic figure.
Haemon is the son of Creon and the bridegrooms of Antigone. After Creon has made the decision to kill Antigone he brought in his son Haemon to hear his opinion because she is supposed to be marrying him. Creon tells his son ,“Son do not let your lust mislead your mind, all for a woman’s sake, for well you know how cold the thing he takes into his arms who has a wicked woman for a wife.” Although this may be true to Creon because Antigone disobeyed his law she always had the best of intentions at heart for her family which shows she would make a wonderful wife. Haemon responded, “But in dark corners I have heard them say how the whole town is grieving for this girl, unjustly doomed, if ever woman was, to die in shame for glorious action done.
In this play Sophocles , argues how the same members of the family are the most powerful tragic, for example, Haemon argues with Creon about the latter’s decision to punish Antigone .Haemon is torn between too powerful allegiances of his father and of his love Antigone. He help protect Antigone by speaking to his father on her behalf, by saying, “They say no woman has ever, so unreasonably, Died so shameful a death for a generous act, She covered her brother’s body. Is this indecent, She kept him from dogs and vultures. Is this a crime, Death, She should have all the honor that we can give her!”(Sophocles, 2028). Haemon argue how noble and good Antigone actions were and why she shouldn’t be punished for doing something the gods clearly stated that they should have done. Haemon understand that
Haemon was Creon’s son, but he was also in love with and engaged to Antigone. When Haemon discovers that Antigone is going to be killed by his father, he goes to discuss it with him. By being a respectful son, Haemon does not yell at his father and instead tries to flatter his father into changing his mind over the punishment. After Haemon realizes that Creon will not change his mind, his love for Antigone empowers his actions. Haemon then tells his father that he will kill himself if Antigone dies. Creon does not take Haemon seriously and proceeds with Antigone’s punishment. Later on when Antigone is found dead, Haemon is outraged and blames his father. In a fit, Haemon goes on to kill himself. His love for Antigone, and his desire to be with her influenced him to kill himself. If he was destined to be with her forever, and Antigone was dead, then he can only be with her if he was dead as well. Additionally, Eurydice as Haemon’s mother had her view of death influenced by love. As a Greek woman, Eurydice did not have any purpose in life other than to be a mother. After she had heard the news of Haemon killing himself, she felt as she had no other purpose in life. Her destiny was to be a mother. After Haemon had died, she had no other destiny in life, so she felt no reason to live and killed herself. Both had been in love, and without it, there was no purpose for