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Dramatic irony examples oedipus
Dramatic irony examples The Story of an Hour
Dramatic irony examples oedipus
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“That’s what men pray for--obedient children growing up at home who will pay back their father’s enemies…” (lines 727-30) says Creon, blatantly stating his expectations of children, including his own son. In contrast with Creon’s standpoint, Haemon served as a foil for Creon’s imperious character with his use of diction, actions, and arguments to generate a great conflict with him---advancing the plot. These conflicting motivations allow Creon to be identified as a tragic hero by revealing his obdurance, hatefulness, and egocentrism towards Haemon. Haemon’s words, actions, and ideas contrast with Creon’s by revealing Creon’s obdurate and unwillful personality. He depends on his pride too much, even in the presence of his own blood. Haemon says, “When men speak well, it good to learn from them.” (line 819) Creon believes that his own devotion to his decree is more valuable to him than compromising with his son. His decision to ignore his own son’s reasoning demonstrates how his obdurance differs from his son’s open-mind. While Haemon attempts to provide his father with reasoning behind his thoughts, Creon chooses to act hateful towards him. Creon becomes intimidated once his son questions his judgement in the quote “Surely she deserves some golden honour?” (line 792), taking Antigone’s side of the …show more content…
The quote, “Are you so insolent you threaten me?” (line 860) advances the plot by allowing the audience to see a different, self-centered side of Creon. While Haemon was simply trying to get through to his father, Creon was focusing everything around himself. Haemon challenges his father’s remark by saying, “What’s the threat in challenging a bad decree?” (line 861). Haemon’s clever response to his father’s assumptions greatly advance the plot by creating more conflicts between the two
When a person has power they need to spread it evenly and allow other people to gain fairly spread power. In Antigone, Haemon tries to help Creon become a better ruler. For example, in Antigone, when Haemon tries to give Creon examples and methods of how to be a stronger and kinder ruler. This shows that Haemon is trying to spread his generosity and knowledge of power to help Creon. This also shows how Haemon
Being in power yields the assumption that everything is possible. In Creon’s case, he states that “never, if I can help it, shall evil triumph over good.” Creon’s pride in his position as King skewed his perception of what is just. He opens his Kingship commenting on this very feature of kingship, that “no other touchstone can test the heart of a man” like that of utmost power. Ironically, Creon reaches this touchstone, only to fail, causing many tragic deaths....
In Antigone Creon reveals his obstinate nature and how even someone as important as a king is not invulnerable to the problems such a character flaw causes. In the beginning of Antigone the townspeople of Thebes rejoice in their new leader, “Creon,” they call, “the new man for the new day” (174). The repetition of ‘new’ shows how the city is ready to welcome Creon with open arms; this outright praise of Creon shows how highly he is regarded by his people. “You cannot know a man completely…his sense of judgment, not till he’s shown his colors…making laws” (194-197). Here Sophocles is showing the reader not to trust Creon absolutely because even if it seems that it is a new age is dawning, Creon may not be a good leader. In this passage Creon seems determined to prove that he is as strong as Oedipus and Laius to whom Thebes was extremely loyal even through tough times, he is so desperate to prove himself that soon after he sentences Antigone to death. Later, after Antigone has been captured, Creon’s own son, Haemon, comes to him saying, “don’t please, be quite so single-minded” (789). At this point Creon is being directly told of what he is doing. Haemon is someone Creon shou...
“I know that too- and it disturbs my mind. It’s dreadful to give way, but to resist and let destruction hammer down my spirit- that’s a fearful option, too.” (Lines 1224-1227) And so he tries to fix them before the prophecy comes true. “Tell me what to do. Speak up, I’ll do it,” (Line 1229) “you think I should concede?” (Line 1232) “Alas, it’s difficult. But I’ll give up. I’ll not do what I’d set my heart upon. It is not right to fight against necessity.” (Lines 1236-1238) By the time Teiresias had taken his boy and left, Creon realized his flaw and that the prophet was right, but it was too late to change his kismet. Creon had not known this yet, and began his journey to fix his wrongdoing. (Lines 1240-1245) “I’ll just go as I am. Come, you servants, each and every one of you. Come on. Bring axes with you. Go there quickly- up to the higher ground. I’ve changed my mind. Since I’m the one who tied her up, I’ll go and set her free myself.” His decision to not listen to the wise man when he was there trying to help, and his continuance to be intransigent until the last minute, led to his downfall. The interaction between these two characters helped develop the theme and plot by creating conflict, the realization for Creon of his downfall, and kept them busy while the plot moved forward behind the
This use of space and staging overpowers Haemon and he is submissive. This effect would be reinforced with lighting as Creon is bathed with a bright sharp light and Haemon with only a meagre fresnel. This should help the audience to see that his father dominates Haemon, but not just because of his tyrannical nature, Haemon is patriotic to both his country and father, he would have obeyed the former king Oedipus with the same loyalty. I would have Creon always above Haemon, again symbolising the authority and also how Creon imposes upon Haemon, I would heighten this effect to the audience by having Creon and some point, preferably in his rhesis where is talks about the obedience of children to step down lower to Haemon and stand close to him a overpower him.
“For me your judgments and the ways you act on them are good – I shall follow them. Ill not consider any marriage a greater benefit than your fine leadership.” (Lines 720-724). Haemon’s words, actions, and ideas contrast with Creon’s character to the point of these two characters having conflicting motivations. These conflicting motivations cause the characteristics of Arrogant, Cold-hearted, and Haughty is to be highlighted within Creon’s character. Ultimately, these conflicting motivations develop Creon as a tragic hero by showing Creon’s true colors and how his personality really is, and the character interactions advance the plot and/or develop the theme by Creating a drama and suspenseful filled
Haemon’s words, action, and ideas contrast with Creon’s character by the disrespect that is show towards Haemon by his father Creon. We see evidence from the text when Creon says “It seems as if this boy is fighting on the women’s side.” This evidence supports my claim because Creon is disrespecting Haemon by calling him a boy, because his is about to get married, and he doesn’t like that fact that he is defending a woman rather than siding
In the story, Creon refuses to believe in the prophecy of Teiresias and as such declares “Whatever you say, you will not change my will.”(Text, Antigone) Creon continues to show excessive Hubris because he is remains stubborn and arrogant even in the face of the seer and his assumptions about Antigone. Creon also boldly states that “The State is King!”(Text, Antigone). This also angers the gods because Creon is placing himself “higher” then them which is considered blaspheme.
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 reveals a high level of distrust by holding the very sentry who has come to admit his failure accountable for the crime that he was put in charge of preventing, and takes this distrust a step further by spreading the culpability to the entire unit of sentries and assuming a conspiracy among his own men. Creon’s immediate judgement that he has been betrayed by the people he has put in charge of enforcing his law shows his great insecurity as a leader. It can be seen that this insecurity comes from the feeling that he lacks control over the people that he rules because of the threats that immediately follow his conclusion that the crime was a conspiracy, which are a clear attempt at asserting his power. Creon’s insecurity and the resulting
has created to the citizens. Creon believes that "It seems this boy (Haemon) is on the
To open, the things he said showed how he changed and became the tragic hero of the play. Many of his statements reveal his personality including his admirable parts and his flaws. When Creon says: "I call to God to witness that if I saw my country headed for ruin, I should not be afraid to speak out plainly," (Sophocles, scene 1,24-26), it shows his strong sense of nationalism and leadership which catches up with him in the end. "The inflexible heart breaks first, the toughest iron cracks first, and the wildest horses bend their necks at the pull of the smallest curb" (scene 2,76-79) is what Creon says to Antigone after finding out she is the one who buried Polynieces. He thinks that if Antigone wasn't so headstrong and arrogant then she could have avoided the consequence he was about to give her. I think Creon was being a hypocrite because he is just as stubborn as she is. The reason why Creon and Antigone come in to so much conflict is because their ways of thinking are almost exactly alike. "It is hard to deny the heart! But I will do it: I will not fight with destiny" (scene 5, 100), is a statement that shows Creon detecting his fault and how he needs to correct it. After talking to Teiresias, the blind prophet, he realizes in order for the higher powers to forgive him he needs to release Antigone. "Fate has brought all my pride to a thought of dust" (exodos, 138). Creon recognizes his flaw and its consequences but it is too late because fate has already occurred.
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.
Family is a symbol of heart and in life, as seen by Creon, deciding to value one's authoritative power over family ties and morals leads to devastation and ultimate loss of what matters the most. In daily life choosing to follow intellect versus compassion in one's judgement is often preferred- especially when it comes to remaining powerful and respected as a king. Creon is approached by his son, Haimon- who is one to follow his heart- and in response to his pleads to not kill Antigone Creon answers: “if I permit my own family to rebel, how shall I earn the world’s obedience?” (PAGE NUMBER) Acting with no sympathy and compassion towards his son and niece- Antigone- he ends up losing both. When power is valued over the heart then usually loss follows because no longer does the person with authority make decisions based on morals and becomes rigid- even heartless. In the case of Creon, and many other people, being rational and he believes that if he listens to his heart than he will be looked at as a weak ruler. As Creon’s fate is revealed and there is a threat for how his actions will impact Thebes in the future, out of selfish doubt he chooses to change his mind and “deny the heart!” in order to “not fight with destiny” (PG NUMBER). Creon appears to have changed his stubborn mind out of sympathy to his family, but truly, it is for his reputation and the
Haemon’s own actions and motivations are different from Creon’s because Haemon is reasonable, caring, and just, while Creon is the opposite being unreasonable, careless,