Essays on Creon

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Introduction Oedipus Rex is a play written by Greek dramatist Sophocles. It is among the most celebrated classical plays in the world. Oedipus Rex belongs to the genre of tragedy, as the central characters of the play undergo hardships at the hands of the fate, despite their integrity of characters and honest of intentions. The play follows all the components of an ideal plot outlined under classical dramatic structure – exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement. The current essay discusses the presence of each of these components within the plot narrative of Oedipus Rex.

Exposition

Before the plot begins, ...

‘Oedipus the King’ was written by the Greek playwright Sophocles. Though a tragedy, like many from the Greek classics, it is laden with meaning that finds relevance even today in the modern world. The story contains a riddle about a murder and how it politically affects the state. The story, in a few words, is about the downfall of a brave warrior. This theme recurs in all cultures and can be found in almost any literature in the world. Since the theme is universal, folk cultures are replete with ballads to depict such tales. With the development of literature, ...

Introduction

Oedipus Rex (c. 430 BC) of Sophocles is the story of the supremacy of the gods who command the fate of men, no matter their station in life. Oedipus, son of King Laios, who was abandoned by his father after having his feet nailed hearing a prophecy that he would die from his son, returns too Thebes to rule in the land which had just lost its King. He had killed an old man while on his way and manages to outwit the Sphinx with her cryptic riddles to enter the Theban walls where he is hailed King and ...

The play Antigone presents a duality concept that is represented by Antigone and Creon. Both are extreme characters and hold absolute principles that eventually lead to their collision. Antigone supports adherence to the laws of the gods while Creon is in support of the laws of the state.

This paper will evaluate the morality of either Antigone’s position or Creon’s support for civil obedience.

Antigone’s brother Polynices fought to take the throne from his brother Eteocles leading to their deaths. As a decree, Eteocles was provided a decent burial while Polynices was subjected to rot to death. Antigone protested Creon’s decree in lieu of observance of the laws of the gods. Both Antigone ...

There are many historical pieces of literature that continues to be read, studied and analyzed in order to understand the characters and events in, both, broader and focused, respects. Who are the heroes and who are the villains? What is the lesson to be learned? Is the ending happy and just or is it simply tragic. In the case of “Oedipus the King” the story has very taboo subject matter, dark foreshadowing and an entirely tragic ending. Oedipus’s choice to blind himself is not a selfish act and the story does not really have a just ending. It ...

Basic Conflict and its Context

The main conflict in Sophocles’ Antigone revolves around the burial of a corpse. Antigone wants her deceased brother Polyneices to have a proper burial, and is decided to have this happen in spite of the obstacles that she may find in her way. On the other hand, King Creon prohibits this because he believes that Polyneices is a traitor, saying that he died “laying waste the land for which he fought” (Sophocles). This obviously clashes with Antigone’s set desire, as the titular character is intent on burying him, claiming that this is right, regardless of what Creon’s ...

1. Do you take Antigone’s or Creon’s point of view? Defend your decision. I would take Creon’s point of view. First, the play depicts Creon as showing a strong stance on campaigning against corruption and corrupt individuals. It's true that as long as individuals may divert from the ethical path by losing the way to engage in intentional bribery and corruption. Creon says that people have often succumbed to the hope of gain, thereby making him suspect that almost everyone at one point has been involved in bribery to betray their public duty. He is categorical ...

Dramatic or tragic irony is a concept that originated in Greek tragedy. It is the idea that a character’s words when spoken against another are actually a reference to themselves (Dictionary.com) In dramatic irony the actions that are perpetrated by a character may be in opposition to what the audience knows is the truth (Dictionary. Com). This paper will look at dramatic irony in Sophocles’ Oedipus the King. Dramatic irony occurs at the beginning of the play when it is revealed that Oedipus is seeking the murderer of Laius King of Thebes. Oedipus wants to find the killer ...

Sophocles’ was himself a political writer using universal themes. Things can get messy when we consider the cultural, social, and religious context of ancient Greek era. First of all the play upraises the gender related social issues as the hero of the play was Antigone herself, then the role of King Creon directs the audience towards law of ruling and the sentiments and draws a fine line between the two for punishing his own niece for the disobedience. The play raised issues over the representation of a woman as a strong ideal character brave enough to act in breaching ...

Introduction

Antigone is a dreadful tragedy written around 441 BC by the Sophocles. It was the last of the Theban plays but chronologically written first. The other pieces of Sophocles have attracted more controversy and nothing has inspired people more than Antigone (Lewis, p. 35). It is an outline of achievements of man, modern in its tone deceptively, has impressed many, and most probably, it is said if it is attached with, choral odes would turn to this poem. It was written at a time of a national intensity or fervor. When the play was performed, Sophocles was known to ...

Antigone and Creon are characters who assume parallel perspectives. There is a sharp contrast between the two and in almost all instances—they do not seem to be in harmony. Oedipus was Antigone’s father. There arises great tension after his departure on who would be the next king. Antigone’s brothers, Eteocles, and Polyneices had agreed to share the leadership roles in the throne. Creon is Antigone’s father (Schakel, and Jack 1105). The two are brought out as very different characters with conflicting ideologies on religious law and the law of men. They also differ on issues ...

Theme of loyalty to family and traditions is illuminated in a tragedy Antigone written by Sophocles. The woes and misfortune of Oedipus`s family line are passed to his children now, thus been born in misery Antigone and Ismene face another calamity. Their brothers Eteocles and Polyneices have killed each other in a battle against the Argive army who tried to assault Thebes. Furthermore, by Creon Polyneices is declared to be a traitor; therefore he cannot be buried with military honors and is left in fields for vultures and dogs unlike his brother Eteocles who had a soldier's funeral. ...

Introduction

Ever since the emergence of theatre as a form of art, it has remained on of the most popular and expressive genres of art that continue to entertain as much as it informs. This is perhaps because for many years, theatre has been used as a social mirror of sorts; one that allows the audience as well as the performers to view the society in which they live for what it is. The ability of playwrights to craft magnificent and compelling theatrical pieces that highlight the plight of the societies in which they live arguably makes playwrights one of ...

Oedipus the King is an ancient drama set in Athens and written by Sophocles. The drama explores the events that take place in a kingdom called Thebes. The major character in this book is King Oedipus, who succeed King Laius. When a plague strikes Thebes, the people of Thebes ask King Oedipus to save them from them from the sufferings brought by the plague. At this time, Creon, who was the brother-in-law to King Oedipus, returns after visiting the oracle of Apollo and says that the plague that was experienced was a punishment for the death of King Laius ...

Throughout the play, Medea is a varied character who attains numerous characteristics compared to women of his times. She, therefore, received different treatment from the society. Why was she a different being? One, Medea was obsessed with supernatural powers, a trait that made her so unique and distinct. Nonetheless, she was unscrupulous, spiteful, and compelled with retaliation. Because of the daily encounters in her life experiences, the situations that arose could have been thought to have played a critical role in shaping certain characteristics and actions by Medea. Most people were scared of her, including the males in the ...

Antigone and Ismene meet before dawn and talk about the misfortune that has befallen their brothers who have died after fighting over the control of Thebes. They discuss the decree given by the new ruler, Creon, which has prohibited any mourning of the two brothers. Antigone comes out as courageous and daring while Ismene appears to be more timid and non-confrontational. Antigone wants to go against the decree by the new King by going ahead to bury her brother and seeks Ismene’s help who, however, declines and opts to follow the King's law. This is seen in Ismene’ ...

Antigone is a tragedy written by Greek playwright Sophocles in the year 442 BCE. The play carries on in a series of plays such as Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus as well as Seven Against Thebes, which tell the tale of social classes, family feuds, and civil law in ancient times. The play tells about the reversal of fortunes between people in the high social class who are forced to live very lowly lives and to suffer emotionally and physically due to the operation of the constitution. The play deals with the burial of Antigone’s brother ...

Introduction

In contemporary society, the term “lament” is used in everyday conversations, yet it is an old method of expression with a wide-ranging history in biblical and cultural contexts. In the Bible and ancient culture, lamentation was a specific practice used in written lyrical texts. In the Bible, the lament is applied as a prayerful plea to the creator or a dirge regarding the death of destruction of someone or something. In literary culture, lament has been used in poetry as well as prose writing for a long time. The Biblical book of Job provides a vivid example of lament. ...

What is the main theme of The Epic of Gilgamesh?

The primary theme of The Epic of Gilgamesh is that of love and friendship, and how it can make people change for the better. In the beginning of the tale, Enkidu is an arrogant, self centered warrior, and Gilgamesh is a tyrannical king who bullies his people. Over the source of the story, Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s friendship causes them to see the better parts of themselves. Gilgamesh causes Enkidu to change into a better, more noble man instead of a savage, and Enkidu brings out the more heroic qualities in Gilgamesh. Their own unique qualities complement each other, and the love ...