Antigone

Antigone

Sophocles' trilogy of Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone is a powerful,
tragic tale that examines the nature of human guilt, fate and punishment. Creon, Oedipus'
uncle and brother-in-law, is the story's most dynamic character. His character experiences a
drastic metamorphosis through the span of the three dramas. Creon's vision of a monarch's
proper role, his concept of and respect for justice, as well as his respect for the design evolve
considerably by the trilogy's tragic conclusion.

In Oedipus the King (OK) , the audience is introduced to a Creon who seems to put loyalty to
the king above all. He sympathizes with the tragic plight of King Oedipus and asserts no
apparent ambition himself. His attitude toward the king is one of yielding and fulfilling
reverence. Creon's notion of justice in OK stems directly from the divine. That which the gods
have decreed must become law. It pains Creon to have Oedipus exiled, but he must do so as
the gods have willed it. Creon's respect for divinity and prophecy seems to be his defining trait
in OK. His attitude is one of unquestioning reverence.

In Oedipus at Colonus (OC), one sees the beginning of Creon's decline. Creon has now
come to occupy the throne that once belonged to Oedipus. It soon becomes apparent that his
vision of the proper role of a king has changed to accommodate his new-found position. The
emphasis shifts from that of a king who must rule wisely to one who must rule unyieldingly.
The kingshi...

Antigone

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