Oedipus the King and Creon in “Antigone” had many characteristics that led to their downfalls. Both men showed similar characteristics throughout the two stories. Oedipus’s characteristics that led to his downfall and ultimately his death was his pride and determination. Creon’s characteristics that led to his downfall and left him all alone at the end of the story was his pride and stubbornness. These characteristics are not a bad characteristic to have but when you can’t let go of them they will only lead you into a negative direction. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus is a very prideful and determined man. His determination to find the killer of King Laius led to a very tragic ending for Oedipus. His pride wouldn’t let him give up on finding the killer and he wouldn’t rest until he did so. Oedipus wife, Jocasta, wants Oedipus to …show more content…
Creon will do anything to find out who disobeyed his orders. Once Creon realizes it’s his own niece, Antigone, he still wants her punished. That’s his pride. No one can disobey him and not be punished. Instead of listening to what everyone else is saying he sends Antigone off to be buried alive with little food and she will determine if she lives until she can’t live any longer or kill herself. That’s where Creons stubbornness comes in. If he would have just punished her a different way the story would have had a whole different ending. Haemon, Creon’s son, was supposed to be marrying Antigone, even though it was his cousin. Haemon attempts to talk his father out of this awful punishment but he does not succeed. Finally, Creon is talked out of his harsh punishment because he will only upset the God’s. They go to retrieve Antigone and find she has hung herself. Haemon then kills himself and when Creon’s wife, Eurydice finds out her son his dead she also kills herself. Creon is left with nothing. If he would have let go of his pride and stubbornness sooner he still would have his