Character of Creon in Oedipus the King - Essay Example

One of the main characters in the play ‘Oedipus the king’ with the utmost outstanding presence is that of Creon. The reason for this is mainly the power that his character holds and his artful achievement of his aims and mission through his actions and reasons. His parsimony, his ability to exploit, and being vested with power that is equal to that of Oedipus and Jocasta make him thrive in his status and his ability to be a beholder of the throne. One of the initial assumptions one makes of the character of Creon is that he comes off as bureaucratic however that is not really the case. The truth is, he is strongly inclined towards laws laid down and social order as far as the harmony and balance of the society is concerned and his uses his intelligence and secretive action to live up to that towards the end of the play. He can be categorized as a wise man and being capable of supporting a free outlook when under limited societal influence and peer pressure. Much like other citizens and political figures in Thebes he possesses a powerful mind as is seen later in the play as his action plan is disclosed beating Oedipus as well as Jocasta’s mind games (MacKay, 1962). Deception and in some ways being misunderstood due to the complexity of his character are common reactions associated with the character of Creon. The fact that he symbolizes a political figure that has great respect for social order is negated by his ability to commit clandestine; these acts direct the audience towards a completely different line of thought. A lot of the initial preconception as far the nature of his character is concerned is attributed to the fact that initially at the beginning Creon is shown in isolation with the people of Thebes. It was only later that his character is seen to have some interest in the society. By isolation of his character a distinct difference in his ability to do things and divergent interests in comparison to those of the people of Thebes, are what were being highlighted. A simple comparison to the character of Oedipus would elaborate on this difference; When Creon bring forth news from the oracle his suggestion is that of conveying the news to Oedipus in secret as well as private however his suggestion is ignored by Oedipus who clearly prefers a public presence and audience. Creon’s defense was such that this decision was a reflection of the thought process of a business man who possessed strong political orientation; this makes him a master manipulator, who has the valuable ability to choose the right time to speak, take meaningful action and always consider the presence of the audience; An example of his artful manipulation being the fact that he does not reveal his news despite the continuous insistence of Oedipus and Jocasta and instead equivocating and dissembles happily. His ability to be reasonable and his strong opinion which he raises against the king by hinting the unequal distribution of power despite the united rule of Oedipus an Jocasta is perhaps commendable but it is also a foolish move as he openly hints that Oedipus is king simply because of the power the title holds. His candid opinion gets the attention of the audience who at first disapprove however it later becomes the focus point of their sympathy as he is banished due to it: “I was not born with such a frantic yearning to be a king- but to do what kings do. And so it is with every one who has learned wisdom and self-control” (36.587-590). So with time Creon’s mistake which he pays for by speaking against the king later transcends to be a voice of reason that speaks in favor of social order and equality in ruler ship making Oedipus look like a fool. Creon captivates the audience through this situation, a scenario so artfully played out where he is punished for his individual reasoning and valid outlook. A critical way to analyze this situation through another perspective would suggest that Creon was manipulation the circumstances so that they would work in his favor. It is later revealed that he actually wanted to gain the approval of the citizens of Thebes by standing out as a voice of equality with his true intention being that of taking the throne from Oedipus. His true motives are only evident in the final act of the play where he expresses his intention of throwing the king in exile and taking over himself. Simply to gain the crown he was willing to go to great lengths. So where does that leave one as far as critically analyzing the character of Creon is concerned; he comes off with the altruistic agenda, one that reeks of a quest for justice and going to great trouble to achieve social order and stability. However his seemingly noble nature was a mask to hide his true motives, to achieve power and overthrow all those that stand in his way to the top. He is deceptive, cunning and has the sly ability to analyze the situation and map out a plan that leads him on the road to fulfill his own desires and goals. His character is comparable to that of a sharp businessman, as far as his capability to judge situations and think and plan strategically goes. Another angle suggests he is like a politician, who is not hesitant to promises, a progressive and harmonic future to gain public favor, interest and acceptability of the citizens of Thebes. His is a skilled manipulator, who uses his words and actions as instruments to get closer to his main goals, which he eventually does. His intelligence is multi faced as it gives him the ability to shape his actions and mould them keeping a balance of business, politics and society. His ability to captivate, capture and then use the audience to his advantage is another one of his talents who repeatedly respond to him and absorb his perceptions and notions as he depicts his different sides. Creon’s character can accurately be summed up as that of a man who clearly has a hidden agenda and his uses all the skills at his disposal, his power of mind, to overcome challenges and situations to achieve what he truly desires – power; his ability to go down a road that is in pursuit of his rational and irrational passions (Gould, 1965). References MacKay, L.A. “Antigone, Coriolanus, and Hegel.” Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association. 1962. Vol. 93. Pp 166 – 174. Gould, Thomas. “The Innocence of Oedipus: The Philosophers on "Oedipus the King". Arion. 1965. Vol. 4. Pp. 582 - 611 Read More