October 14th Oedipus Rex Quote Response

"I could not covet kingship for itself when I can be king by other means" (Sophocles 33).

When Creon makes this bold statement upon being openly threatened by Oedipus, it provides the audience with a view into his true character. While Oedipus is all about being the flamboyant, famous king, the face and hero of Thebes, Creon is quite content with receiving small recognition and getting to work more behind the scenes. This also is great support for his defense in Oedipus' recent accusation that Creon is in fact Laius' murderer. Oedipus sees Creon as the most obvious choice for having bribed Tiresias, due to the fact that in his mind, it would only make sense that Creon deeply covets the crown. However, Creon dismisses this argument entirely because he goes on to explain, "I am not so simple as to seize the symbol when I can have the sweet reality: Now smiled upon by all, saluted by all ... Why should I let this go, this ease, and reach for cares?" (33) Creon is saying here that he simply would not have had the motive to either murder Laius or pin the crime on Oedipus by way of a profit. Creon is happy with his simple life. This part of the text is important because Oedipus is slowly running out of scenarios with which to elude the truth.