In each of the three Oedipus plays, Sophocles embodies Creon with a unique character.

In

Oedipus the King, the reader encounters Creon; a man of reason, responsibility, and compassion.

In Oedipus at Colonus, Creon is portrayed as a duplicitous and a manipulative coward. In

Antigone, Creon demonstrates hubris and his autocratic style of ruling. Loyalty, is the only trait

that is always present within Creon in this trilogy of plays.

For instance, in Oedipus the King, Oedipus accuses Creon and Tiresias of plotting against

him. To his defense, Creon employs reason to explain why he is not particularly interested in

obtaining a title of a King.

CREON. Well then are you married to my sister?

OEDIPUS. I am and why should I deny it?
CREON. And reign equally with her all over the realm?
OEDIPUS. Yes. I do my best to carry out her wishes.
CREON. And of this twosome do I make an equal third?
OEDIPUS. Exactly! Which is why you make so false a friend.
CREON. No. Try to reason it as I must reason it.
First ask yourself who would choose
uneasy dreams to don a crown, when all
the kingly sway can be enjoyed without?
I could not covet kingship for itself
When I can be a king by other means.
Who would, who knows what wisdom is?
A mind at peace doe not engender wars.
Treason never was my bent, nor I
a man who parleys with an anarchist (46)

Creon points out that since his sister is married to the king; he is entitled to as much power and

privilege as the royal couple. Since he can already enjoy royal power, he sees no other incentive

to pursue the crown and title of a king. Creon tells Oedipus that he is a wise man who does not

resort to violence, treason, or anarchy. He is loyal to his state. In the play’s epilogue, Creon

encounters the bloody, blind, and powerless mess that once was Oedipus.
 CREON. Its not to scoff or scorn for past behavior, Oedipus, that I
have come...
Quickly take him home. A family’s ears,
a family’s eyes,
alone should know a family’s miseries. (78)

Creon forgives Oedipus for his accusations and orders him to be escorted away from public

humiliation, thus displaying his compassion for a man driven to demise by fate. Oedipus then

asks Creon to take in and care for his two young daughters.

OEDIPUS. Listen, Son of Menoeceus:

now their natural parents are no more
they have no other father left but you.
You must not see your blood go down in
beggary
or watch them roaming husbandless;
you must not leave them to fate like
mine.
Open you heart. Look they’re young! Bereft
of everything unless you furnish it.
Come—a promise, noble prince, your hand!
[Creon gives his hand] (81)

Creon yet again demonstrates his compassion towards Oedipus and his young children.

However, by promising to take in and father the girls, Creon takes on great responsibility. He has

to protect the girls, keep them way from fate similar to that of their father, and make sure that

they eventually start families of their own.

In Antigone, the newly crowned king Creon develops an obsession for close control over

the state of Thebes. He forbids anyone to bury or mourn over the body of Polynices; Antigone's

and Ismene’s brother, who fought against their state. Creon is infuriated when he finds out that

Antigone has been the one ignoring his decree by trying to bury her fallen brother.

CREON. I swear I hardly care

If she be my sister’s child, or linked
 To me by blood more closely than
Any member of my hearth and home—
She and her sister will not now escape
The direst penalty. (180)

Creon’s obsession for order and rule in the state is well above concern for his family’s wellbeing.

Antigony is his niece and son’s bride, however he chooses to punish her because she posed a

threat to his rule. Antigone defends her pride by saying that not a single man in Thebes would

deny that her decision to bury her brother was respectful and praiseful if “...his tongue/ Were not

locked up in fear”. (181) This shows that Creon’s autocratic rule and order keeps people from

voicing their thoughts because of constant fear of punishment.