Oedipus the King Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Oedipus the King - Essay Example 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 f ar 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. ... 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: â€Å"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