Creon's Pride
by Barry Wright
Essay: Creon's Pride
Pages: 10
Rating: 3 stars
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Throughout Greek literature, the blind prophet Tiresias makes several appearances. In Sophocles’ plays Oedipus
the King and Antigone, Tiresias tries in vain to warn the kings of Thebes of their wrong doing. In Antigone, Creon,
the king of Thebes, refuses to reason with Tiresias after sentencing his niece Antigone to death for burying her
brother. Throughout the text Tiresias and the Chorus to help Creon see the errors he has made, but he is blinded
by his stubbornness.
When Tiresias arrives in Thebes to speak to Creon it at first appears that Creon will obey the advice the prophet
has to offer. This can be seen through their exchange where Tiresias says, “I will teach you. And you obey the
seer.” (1094) to which Creon responds, “I will,/ I’ve never wavered from you advice before.” (1095-96) through this
dialogue it is clear that Creon values Tiresias’s opinion. It is also ironic because Creon later refuses to heed the
advice he has been given by the prophet. In other Greek literature, such as Oedipus the King by Sophocles, the
title character also chooses not to believe the blind prophet and in turn blinds and exiles himself. Considering that
Creon was present for the events of Oedipus the King, it seems rather obvious that he should follow the prophet’s
advice. What is truly ironic about both Antigone and Oedipus the King, the blind prophet Tiresias is the only
character in both plays that can actually see what is really happening.
Tiresias tries to explain to Creon that he is the cause of the problems in Thebes. Tiresias reveals that through
Creon’s stubborn actions he is causing a plague on Thebes:
“And it is youYour high resolve that sets this plague on Thebes.
The public altars and sacred hearths are fouled,...