Creon serves two different roles in both plays. He is the King of Thebes in Antigone and the brother-in-law to Oedipus in Oedipus the King also known as Oedipus Rex. Creon did not receive the title of "King" until the end of Oedipus the King. He shows a rise and fall in his power from both plays. In Oedipus the King, Creon was known to be a respectable and compassionate man. His personality and behavior changes in Antigone as he becomes sparingly disrespectful. His actions should make you wonder if he has learned anything from Oedipus the King. Accusations and false judgment play a huge role in how Creon's life changed dramatically at the end of Antigone. All the major flaws that Creon develops is the reason for his tragedy. Creon is very cocky and allows power get in the way of family and he forgets the real meaning of being a king. He does not know how to deal with his own conflicts in a hasty manner, so he does what he wants to do without any advice or help from anyone. In this paper, I will compare and contrast Creon in two plays: Oedipus the King and Antigone. I will also evaluate Creon's attitudes and behaviors and make a conclusion to see if Creon learns from the mistakes he has made. .
In Oedipus the King, Creon plays the role of the brother-in-law to Oedipus. Oedipus sends Creon to the Gods to ask what has caused the plague, and when he gets the news he returns to the oracle. He can be very sneaky and secretive as he asks Oedipus if he would like for him to discuss the matter with him in private (Sophocles lines 102-103). Creon tells Oedipus that the murderer of Laius must be taken out of Thebes for the plague to end. Since no one knows who killed Laius, Oedipus calls on the blind prophet, Tiresias.When Tiresias tells Oedipus that he was the murderer of Laius (Sophocles lines 317-515), he accuses Tiresias and Creon of conspiracy (Sophocles lines 585-600). Creon maintains his calm, although he was accused.