AntigoneSophocles’ 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 adrastic metamorphosis through the span of the three dramas. Creon’s vision of a monarch’sproper role, his concept of and respect for justice, as well as his respect for the design evolveconsiderably by the trilogy’s tragic conclusion. In Oedipus the King (OK) , the audience is introduced to a Creon who seems to put loyalty tothe king above all. He sympathizes with the tragic plight of King Oedipus and asserts noapparent ambition himself. His attitude toward the king is one of yielding and fulfillingreverence.
Creon’s notion of justice in OK stems directly from the divine. That which the godshave decreed must become law. It pains Creon to have Oedipus exiled, but he must do so asthe gods have willed it. Creon’s respect for divinity and prophecy seems to be his defining traitin OK.
His attitude is one of unquestioning reverence. In Oedipus at Colonus (OC), one sees the beginning of Creon’s decline. Creon has nowcome to occupy the throne that once belonged to Oedipus. It soon becomes apparent that hisvision of the proper role of a king has changed to accommodate his new-found position. Theemphasis shifts from that of a king who must rule wisely to one who must rule unyieldingly.
The kingship becomes a selfserving instrument for Creon in his attempt to secure the return ofOedipus and the good fortune prophesied to accompany him. Creon’s notion of justice isseverely distorted in OC. He becomes monomaniacal – conducting his affairs with tyranny andbelligerence. For example, he threatens to harm Oedipus’ daughters if the blind beggar doesnot return to Thebes.
His view of rightness and fairness is no longer in line with that of hissubjects. In OC, Creon still retains some respect for divine prophecies. These have after allmotivated his desire to return Oedipus to Thebes. Antigone reveals the ultimate extent to which Creon’s character deteriorates.
Histransformation completes itself; he has become an unreasonable tyrant. Creon can no longer becalled a king. He has become a despot. There is absolutely no justice to be found. Violenceand threats of violence are the tools by which he rules. For example, his senseless threats to aninnocent sentry reveal the true extent of his loss of reason.
Creon has distorted theproclamation against Polyneices’ burial, which was originally intended to foster Theban unity,into a display of rashness and incompetence. There is no mention of the gods and theirintentions on Creon’s behalf in Antigone. He has been so far destroyed by his own power asto dismiss the divine will that he originally thrived on.
