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Three Theban plays
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The three Theban Plays, or the Oedipus cycle, written by Greek dramatist Sophocles in the 5th century BCE, follow the tragic downfall of the mythical king Oedipus of Thebes and his descendants. See the individual articles for more information on the specific plays:
- Oedipus the King (also known as Oedipus Rex or Oedipus Tyrannus)
- Oedipus at Colonus
- Antigone
The plays were written across forty years of Sophocles' career and were not composed in chronological order, but instead were written in the order ‘Antigone’, ‘Oedipus the King’, and ‘Oedipus at Colonus’ [1] .
As a result, there are some inconsistencies. Notably, Creon is the undisputed king at the end of ‘Oedipus the King’ and, in consultation with Apollo, single-handedly makes the decision to expel Oedipus from Thebes. Creon is also instructed to look after Oedipus' daughters Antigone and Ismene at the end of ‘Oedipus the King’, while elsewhere they are on their own, have fled with Oedipus, or are actively opposing Creon.
However, in the other plays there is some struggle with Oedipus' sons Eteocles and Polynices in regards to the succession. In ‘Antigone’, Creon expects that the chorus will be loyal to him as it was first to Oedipus and then to his sons. In ‘Oedipus at Colonus,’ Sophocles attempts to work these inconsistencies into a coherent whole: Ismene explains that, in light of their tainted family lineage, her brothers were at first willing to cede the throne to Creon. Nevertheless, they eventually decided to take charge of the monarchy, with each brother disputing the other’s right to succeed. In addition to being in a clearly more powerful position in ‘Oedipus at Colonus,’ Eteocles and Polynices are also culpable: they condemn their father to exile, which is one of his bitterest charges against them.[2]
In addition to these minor plot inconsistencies, there are several fundamental differences in Creon’s character among the three plays. Among these is Creon’s portrayal as power hungry and alternatively as uninterested in power. In Antigone, Creon is clearly obsessed with his power, and averse to the point of paranoia to anything that might challenge him. He values loyalty in all of his interactions; he tells his son, Haemon, that obedience is paramount in the citizen.
In Oedipus the King, however, Creon seems to be uninterested in power. When Oedipus alleges that he has conspired with Teiresias to take the throne, Creon points out that he already has rights to one third of the kingdom, but has chosen not to exercise this power. He seems to be a much more content and less ambitious than in Antigone.
- ^ Sophocles. Sophocles I: Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone. 2nd ed. Grene, David and Lattimore, Richard, eds. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1991.
- ^ Sophocles. Sophocles I: Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone. 2nd ed. Grene, David and Lattimore, Richard, eds. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1991.