Oedipus, Antigone and Creon

Antigone was a daughter of King Oedipus of Thebes, born of grim and tragic union between Oedipus and his mother Jokasta. Although its origin is grim, Antigone had a loyal and loving character. When was the final expulsion of Oedipus the kingdom of Thebes, blind and pursued by furies, Antigone led his father during the years he wandered through many lands. Antigone's brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, were elected to reign alternately, but after the first year of the reign Eteocles refused to pass the kingdom to his brother than to expel him from the city. Coming into direct confrontation, Eteocles and Polynices slew each other and died. His uncle Creon, Jokasta brother, took the throne declared himself King of Thebes and assured the burial of Eteocles as the customs of the city. However, forbade Polynices was buried, as was the belief that his shadow would remain wandering the banks of the River Styx.

“There is no art that teaches us to know/ The temper, mind or spirit of any man/ Until he has been proved by government/ And lawgiving.” (lines 175-78).

The diviner Tiorésias tried to convince him to revoke his decision, but Creon proved adamant. The orders of the king should not be disobeyed and who dared to do it would be buried alive. But Antigone wanted a burial ceremony for her brother Polynices because he understood the reasons which had led to Thebes (Goff and Simpson). Antigone he built a pyre and put it on the body of Polynices following the ritual to free the soul of his brother. When King Creon saw the flames of the pyre, surprised and condemned Antigone to be buried alive.

“And if I have to die for this pure crime,/ I am content, for I shall rest beside him;/ His love will answer mine” (lines 72-74).

Antigone was engaged to Haemon, Creon's son, yet the king entrusted the execution of Antigone. Pretending to agree, Hemon married in secret with Antigone and took her to live with the shepherds. When Creon discovered, condemned his son to death. After running Creon lamented the rash decisions that were taken. Some time later, was born the son of Antigone. Sorry, King of Thebes Antigone sent to live with her grandson in the kingdom. Creon had finally recognized that unions family should be above any power, it is they who help us endure and withstand all the storms of life, to escape the daily tragedies.

“Wonders are many, yet of all/ Things is Man the most wonderful” (lines 332-33).

The myth of Antigone is one of the most significant and important of Greek mythology, as there are many subtle inferences beyond the myth of Antigone great loyalty to his brother. In addressing the myths you need to use the hyponoia a hermeneutic technique that allows us to discover in the various texts hidden meanings, apparently less relevant. There was a big difference in the origins of Antigone and Creon. Antigone was Labdacus race of Laius and Oedipus, a descendant of Labdácidas ...