“The Theban Plays” which was written during the height of Athenian power in ancient Greece tells of Oedipus, Creon, the trials of the Thebans and the curse they have endured which was set upon them by the god Apollo. Within the three plays contained in this book we find a story of truth, betrayal, murder and greed. With lessons to be learned from each character in “The Theban Plays,” one might see how Sophocles is much like Aesopes. He uses morals, values, and lessons when writing his plays to better help the reader understand what he is trying to convey to his audience.
The first play is properly titled Oedipus the King. This play tells of Oedipus and the people of Thebes who are mysteriously dying. The chorus begs their leader to help them and to solve a mystery. There are many Thebans dying without cause with the kingdom, and the chorus wishes a quick answer. Oedipus has sent Creon on a quest to the god Apollo in order to find out why his people are dying, since there are no known diseases, famine, and floods.
Sophocles uses the chorus to show Oedipus that something in Thebes is not as it should be. The chorus provokes Oedipus to act, in an attempt to quell the recent events since the Thebans will not stop dying until a murderer is brought to justice. The townspeople began a string of events, which will eventually lead to their king’s exile. Sophocles has given the chorus a large voice in the play, dictating the democratic way of the Greeks, versus the traditional ruthless kingship of most leaders at that time. He has made Oedipus a kind-hearted king who cares for his people. The king of Thebes serves his people; he does not force them to serve him. The chorus is able to speak their mind, and go to their king in their time of desperation without fear of death or insulting their leader.
I believe Sophocles ended Oedipus the King in such the manor that he did because he wanted to state that “by keeping a secret, one might avoid unneeded harm.” Fear is a powerful emotion and causes many of these characters to act out rashly and hastily. If someone must take fault and receive punishment, the god Apollo is the one who should receive the discipline. If Apollo had not told Jocasta and Laius of the son who would kill his father and marry his mother, the worried parents might not have sent Oedipus to die, he would have known who his parents were, and would not have married his mom. Thus none of the events leading up to their deaths would have taken place. I believe that the thought of fate controls ones entire being and that destiny are preordained before one is even born is completely ludicrous. The Greeks were unlike those of Mesopotamia who believed their civilization and very way of being relied on the gods. Those of Mesopotamia felt the gods chose everything that happened to them, weather they lived or died, how their crop would grow, and so on. On the other hand, the Greeks very much felt they had control of their lives, and only asked the gods for aid and assistance when they needed it. I believe Sophocles shows the independence the Greeks had in the choices the characters made. Ultimately, each character’s choices brought the expected future Apollo foresaw, perhaps out of fear and out of the sheer desire to prevent the events, but there are many ways that the ending could have been prevented, and Sophocles clearly shows this by carefully choosing each and every detail of the play. However, in the end, Apollo only foretold as he saw and the blame therefore lies on no one, as Apollo was acting just as the other characters were, in an attempt to avoid the possible awful outcome in telling those involved of their fate. Each choice is made with the best intention and therefore, blame lies with no one.
Justice has not been served in any amount in this play. First Apollo foretells of Oedipus’ actions of killing his father and taking his mother as a wife, then he curses the people of Thebes until they are forced to ask Oedipus why they are dying. Apollo causes more trouble than he is worth, first with the original curse forcing the chorus to ask Oedipus for help, and thus begins the chain of events in Oedipus the King. Jocasta and Laius are victims of Apollo foretelling the future and their reaction was fear from learning the horrible fate which awaits them. Oedipus is also a victim of fear as his parents reaction to Apollo’s news forces his parents to abandon him, leaving him for dead while Apollo watches, knowing exactly what will happen. In Antigone, the good characters are punished with death, though it is a path they choose for themselves while the selfish character Creon has no choice of his punishment, the death of his wife and son.
"Greed is ones own worst enemy" was perhaps was the theme Sophocles had in mind while writing the third Theban Play Antigone. Even after the death of so many people, Creon is set in having things the way he wishes, and in doing so, he inevitably causes the death of his entire family. Sophocles writes Creon in such a way that he becomes greedy and selfish, wanting every detail to fall into order as he sees fit. In doing so, he presses his beliefs upon others, that Eteocles will receive a hero's funeral, where Polynices will be left unburied and dishonored, and anyone wishing to honor Polynices will be put to death.
Then with the unjust ruler Sophocles also shows the reader Antigone, a woman who believes the law is unfair, as both men are her brothers, and now dead, she sees them as equals and wishes a burial for both. Torn between following the law of Creon and honoring her brother, Antigone is forced to choose, and in the end, follows what she believes. Weather this is right or wrong is up to each individual reader, as the only way to make a moral decision is weighed solely on each person. Creon’s law showed many problems from the beginning. Antigone knew of the law set forth by Creon, and in going directly against it she was prepared for her fate of death, and therefore, the ending is fitting as regardless of Creon’s selfish law, Antigone knew of the possible outcome, and was prepared from the beginning for such.
Despite the laws, Antigone believes her brother should have a proper funeral and risks her life to do so. Though Antigone knows where authority lies in Thebes, she still followed what she believes even though she knows it may very well cost her her life. Therefore, when she goes against Creon's wishes, a domino effect takes place, and Creon then feels the loss of two loved ones, just as Antigone did.
In this play, Sophicles lays the fault solely on Creon for being so selfish and self-centered. Had he allowed both brothers to be buried equally, with not more honor for one and less for another, Antigone, the only person who seemed to care besides Creon, would have been satisfied and left well enough alone. She wouldn't have killed herself, Haemon would not have therefore killed himself and Eurydice would not die, mourning the loss of her son. Sophocles shows with Creon’s selfish ways that one’s personal reasons do not outweigh the greater cause. A single person’s rights play of great importance to that one person and the people directly connected with them but those who cannot personally relate to the individual just as Antigone cannot relate to Creon and his reasons behind his decree, while other followers of Creon who agreed with his reasoning and ideas (and probably did not personally know Polynices and Eteocles) will support the king willingly.
Sophocles manages to show that a person’s greed shadows the positive. Creon could perhaps in no way relate to Antigone's situation, until he lost all that he valued and was in the same situation of having lost two loved ones in a moments notice. Sophocles uses Haemon and Eurydice to parallel Polynices and Eteocles. The power Creon holds versus the lack of power Antigone holds, yet she still manages to get not only what she wants, but to force Creon to see that he cannot force his will upon others.