Creon's Role In Oedipus

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Throughout the plays Antigone and Oedipus The King we see the role of the chorus play a major part. The main characters constantly have conversations with the chorus, and the chorus provides advice, asks questions, serve as a jury, and take many other roles in the plays. The chorus in the Antigone is much more judgemental of Creon than the chorus in Oedipus The King, because we see Creon doing what he wants over seeking advice from people, yet Oedipus listens to his people. In Oedipus The King, the chorus still sympathizes Oedipus more because he wants to do what is right for his people. On the other hand, Creon in Antigone doesn’t get as much sympathy because he chose to ignore advice given to him. In the epilogue of both plays, the chorus …show more content…
We see Creon throughout the play being a strong leader, but hardly listens to other people’s advice. Creon does what he thinks is right, rather than taking advice from his people and even his son Haemon. When asked to reconsider something that has been said and to listen to the chorus, Creon threatens Haemon and says, “I say she dies in front of him, before her bridegroom’s eyes.” (Sophocles 225) The leader of the chorus tells Creon, “Sire, the young man speaks good sense: worth listening to.” (Sophocles 223), but Creon proceeds not to listen. Because of ignorant decisions like these from Creon, the chorus shows more harsh judgement to Creon. The chorus, after finding out that Haemon and Creon’s wife, Queen Eurydice has died, exclaim, “Look, the King himself draws near, his load in a kind of muteness crying out his sorrow (Dare we say it?) from a madness of misdoing started by himself and by no other.”(Sophocles 247) We see the chorus showing little sympathy towards Creon during a time of loss. They announce that his was all Creon’s fault, and no one else’s that his son and wife were now dead. The chorus also talks about how Creon needs to be careful not to exceed human boundaries in the first choral ode of Antigone. The chorus states, “But when he promulgates unsavory ambition, cityless and lost. And then I will not share my heart with him; I want no parcel of his thoughts.” …show more content…
In Oedipus The King, the chorus sympathizes for Oedipus even when the find out the truth, because of loyalty and respect towards the people of Thebes. In Antigone, we see conversations between the chorus and Antigone where the chorus is sympathizing for her. They think Creon is too harsh on Antigone for doing what she thinks is right, when Creon thinks her actions are wrong. The chorus tells Antigone, “Poor Antigone...were you rash enough to cross the King?” (Sophocles 207) The chorus here is demonstrating how they show more sympathy for Antigone for doing what is right in this situation. After the play unfolds, and Creon is left alone because Haemon, Antigone, and Eurydice are all dead, the chorus shows their true colors when talking to Creon. Moments after Creon gets news about Eurydice’s suicide, the chorus exclaims, “She charged you, yes, with both their deaths-This lifeless thing As double filicidal killer!”(Sophocles 250) The chorus here shows no sympathy and comes right at Creon for being responsible for the suicide of their queen. When Creon tries to pray for forgiveness the keeps persisting that this is all his fault and he will be punished. The chorus states that, “Your prayers are done. Man cannot flatter Fate, And punishment must come.” (Sophocles 251) Even in a horrible time for Creon the chorus is very harsh with the truth. In Oedipus The