Oedipus Vs Creon

Question

- King Oedipus has been called a tragedy of the state as well as of the individual (Implying the Thebes will suffer under Creon). Look closely at the qualities of Creon and Oedipus, and present your research materials to your group. Ensure your group discusses who the better leader is: Oedipus or Creon.

Lesson Breakdown:

TIME LEADER’S ROLE PARTICIPANTS’ ROLE MATERIALS

14 min Objective: To get my group members thinking about Oedipus and Creon’s character and how they will affect the other parts of the trilogy.

1. In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus and Creon are two very different characters. Compare Oedipus and Creon by either providing a passage within Oedipus Rex or describing their differences in character. What affect did each of these characters have in the story?

2. Oedipus and Creon present two very contrasting images in one’s mind. These two characters have been presented in many different ways throughout their appearances in theatre and movies. On the paper provided, draw a diagram of what you think these characters would have actually looked like. After drawing, compare your answers with the other participants and explain why you have drawn it this way.

3. By looking

In contrast to this, in Antigone, Creon is a tyrant-like leader who lacked empathy and care for others. This can be seen as he forbid the burial of Polynices, which defied Greek custom. This act results in the death of Antigone, his son Haemon and his wife Eurydice (“Play Summary Antigone”). Contrary to Oedipus, Creon’s Hubris lead to a series of conscious actions that negatively affect the characters in the story. In the end, Creon can be seen to have learnt his lesson as the chorus states: “Of happiness the crown And chiefest part Is wisdom, and to hold The gods in awe. This is the law That, seeing the stricken heart Of pride brought down, We learn when we are old.” (Sophocles 162). Therefore, Oedipus is the better