... in the words of Sophocles, Antigone has regained the "proud fullness of her being-. Creon gives way to self-doubt and grieves to himself. Creon's loyalty is to himself and to the law he represents. In Creon's first appearance, he is a giving a speech from the throne. His speech shows ... No one values friendship more highly than I (926). Antigone defends her brother Polynices because he was a part of her family. But it is this loyalty that makes her disloyal to her king, Creon. The guard is frightened for his life. Creon gets angry with him. According to Kirkwood, we see ... be buried be...

• Word Count: 1529
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... a while"(Wharton 295). Creon acknowledges his great mistake in being prideful and realizes how his pride caused suffering. The last major theme is loyalty and the practical problem of conduct involving which is a higher law between the divine laws and those of the humans. Both Antigone and Creon ... that Antigone believes highly in obeying, especially when it deals with her family. "Antigone is torn between her devotion to the Gods and her loyalty to the king"(Harding 290). "She felt her personal responsibility lies to the gods and her family rather than to the king"(Harding 304). ... po...

• Word Count: 2111
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... through a story. These lessons are taught and projected to the audience through the plot, characters and theme of the play. The plays teach lessons on loyalty, keeping promises, fate, courage, prejudice, and the manners in which humans relate to each other. Each of these lessons is valuable and although these plays ... and therefore not be destiny. Another lesson that is not as clear but is told to us through Oedipus the King, is to accept what is true, especially when one does not wish to do so. We must face reality with a strong, confident attitude and not shy away from it into ... Oe...

• Word Count: 2002
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... and democratic statesman. He decrees, "...nor could I ever make that man a friend of mine who menaces our country. Remember this: our country is our safety. Only when she voyages true on course can we establish friendships, truer than blood itself." (Antigone, ll. 209-213) As the plot develops, however, it becomes clear that for Creon the welfare of the ... to avoid the consequences of his stubborn decision-making. Antigone on the contrary never gives an inch in yielding to her opposition and goes to her death with her beliefs, true to her insistence on the right of Polynices body to a p...

• Word Count: 849
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... reads: "No, not till I see these charges proved will I side with his accusers." This shows that the Chorus considers Oedipus to be a true leader, and hence will follow him regardless. Another factor of significance in the first stasimon is that it shows the audience how the Chorus believes that ... upon, and never questioned. However, as the 1st Stasimon reads on, the Chorus starts to believe that what Tiresias" accusation states may not be true. The Chorus hears of the prophecy about Oedipus, yet still says that they will never convict their king, which basically shows that they are tu...

• Word Count: 2586
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... Creon is only further drawn into his false reality dictated by hubris. One critic states "[a tragic hero is] not eminently good and just, not completely under the guidance of true reason, but as falling through some great error or flaw of character, rather than through vice or depravity". Creon does not have the desire to be the king for he ... the King himself: oh look at him, bearing his own damnation in his arms". The vulnerability of a king who is pleading for his death after his demise due to his loyalty to the State makes the reader "melt with pity at what takes place" " (Poetics ...

• Word Count: 1315
• Approx Pages: 5

... 's life and the site and companionship of Oedipus, showing no remorse for either loss. Creon's character is essential to Oedipus the King in that it shows how the apparent loyalty of Creon to Apollo and to his sister and brother-in-law lead us to believe that Creon is one worthy of approval and admiration whereas nothing is as it ... govern should be obeyed "Must be obeyed, in all things, great and small."" (34-35). Haemon warns his father that the people of Thebes are doubting their king's true ambitions, but this simply angers Creon and does not make him reconsider his actions. Later T...

• Word Count: 1517
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... and has the strength to accept and endure it when found. They admire that Oedipus was willing to bring himself down in his lust to find his true identity. However, the driving force of Oedipus' fact-finding mission is an attempt to end the disease that plagues his city. He doesn't realize the ... personal consequences his hunt will have for him, and his loyalty to the truth is based on his ignorance of it. In fact, if we examine his "quest for identity", it becomes apparent that the sequence of ... application in terms of Oedipus, who's life was unexamined, yet complete. The question ari...

• Word Count: 3235
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: High School

... addressing the Chorus, he declares, "These are my principles. Never at my hands will the traitor be honored above the patriot. But whoever proves his loyalty to the state: I"ll prize that man in death as well as life" (l 232-235). Creon puts country above all else, and for this, ... who threaten his country, exemplifying strong convictions and firm decisions. However, as good and formidable as Creon may be, he also embodies human qualities. True, he does good in punishing Polynices, the aggressor to Thebes, but his foolish decision to not bury him defies the gods, and in turn, ... her c...

• Word Count: 1545
• Approx Pages: 6

... , Antigone is a play about the struggle between state and family. It is Creon's nobility, tragic flaw, his downfall, and his great loss that bring him to be a true tragic hero of Antigone. His noble quality is his caring for Antigone and Ismene when their father was persecuted. He also realized his mistake when Teiresias made his prophecy. Finally ... forced to live, knowing that three people are dead because of his ignorance, which is a punishment worse than death. All are the key elements that make Creon for being a true tragic hero. Creon is a man of great noblility. He stepped up to b...

• Word Count: 1884
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... mountain by a shepherd to be killed so the omen of the god Apollo that Laius" son would kill him and lay with Jocasta, would not come true. Oedipus was the weakest of his life at this point. If it has not been for the shepherd sparing his life and giving him to Polybus to ... cost and has the strength to accept and endure it when found. They admire that Oedipus was willing to bring himself down in his lust to find his true identity. However, the driving force of Oedipus's fact-finding mission is an attempt to end the disease that plagues his city. He doesn't realize the personal ... con...

• Word Count: 1375
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... , Creon and Torvald Helmer address the challenge of how men and women are to live together in harmony. Ruler of Thebes in the wake of war, Creon cherishes order and loyalty above all else. He cannot bear to be defied, any more than he can bear to watch the laws of the state defied. "Never at my hands/will the traitor ... . When Nora reveals her crime to Helmer, the audience expects to see a grateful and understanding husband, but instead is greeted with a spiteful and unappreciative man who does not see the true purpose of Nora's deed. Similarly, Creon, instead of seeing that his niece An...

• Word Count: 1351
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... early events in Medea's and Jason's relationship clearly forshadow the situation that unfolds in Euripides" play. Jason's actions in marrying Creon's daughter are noble enough if his reasoning is indeed true, but unravel in a Greek tragedy filled with passionate revenge. He does not consider his marriage to Creon's daughter a sinful strike at his relationship with Medea, and yet Medea feels it ... must be treated as such. It is clear that Medea believes that her bond to Jason is not only lawful but emotional, and while Jason too feels that he has a loyalty to Medea, he does not see thei...

• Word Count: 681
• Approx Pages: 3

So often injustices root themselves in the broken promises of loyalty. Euripides's Medea demonstrates just that. The foundation of Medea and Jason's marriage lies within the oath taken on the almost fatal day of Jason. After time, human temptations arise and ... his loved ones and his reputation, all leading to his fateful death. In Medea's eyes revenge is the only way she will find closure from her suffering. Because Medea's one true love Jason, leaves her for another women she creates justice by reciprocating the pain he causes. She brutally kills Jason's bride Crucia, and her father King...

• Word Count: 284
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... the grain of authority in order to do what she believed was right, and thus, is a heroine. Being determined and headstrong, Antigone was uncompromisingly true to her own beliefs and values. We must learn from Antigone that loyalty to ourselves, and courage, is what truly strengthens our character as humans. "We can't live by Antigone's alone, but if we have no Antigones ... ...

• Word Count: 659
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... blood," (Sophocles, 88) Oedipus the decided and executed these actions. What a fate for Oedipus who ruled greatly for the city of Thebes? Since Oedipus ruled greatly and experienced trust and loyalty from the Thebans it is easy to feel sorrow and sympathy for Oedipus at the plays end. This created the hostility toward the gods. The gods are not to blame ... oracles or fates. As for justice, the gods are justice. Readers will notice that Oedipus was not wise to the fact that his actions helped bring the prophecy from Apollo true. This blindness helps turn the readers against the gods. Ho...

• Word Count: 1136
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... of Greek tragedy as a means of catharsis for the audience, presenting Oedipus" development as the tragic hero. Moreover, it expresses Sophocles" social commentary concerning the evolution of individual thought versus loyalty to traditional beliefs and submission to fate. The tragedy of Oedipus begins with a speech that gives an idea of Oedipus" self-perception, describing himself as, "Oedipus whom all men call ... the one that he ran away from years ago. This refusal to believe the prophecy is Oedipus" direct denial of his own fate. Denying his fate is like denying his true identity, be...

• Word Count: 1741
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate