When Oedipus accuses Creon of conspiring to depose him and take over the rule of Thebes, Creon explains that he already gets all the benefits of being king without any of the downsides. Because he is so close to Oedipus, people fawn over him, wishing him "Godspeed." They try to gain his favor. He has a voice in policy, in fact, what he calls "boundless influence," but without any worries. He tells Oedipus:
Why should I leave the better, choose the worse?That were sheer madness, and I am not mad.No such ambition ever tempted me ...
Creon is saying that he has no ambitions of becoming ruler. He has everything he wants. This rings true, because when Laius was killed, Creon could have had the throne—in fact, that was what Laius wanted. Instead, he offered it to anyone who could free Thebes from the Sphinx by solving its riddle. Oedipus did so, and Creon had him crowned and gave him Jocasta as his wife. Creon has not shown any resentment of Oedipus since. It is clear that Oedipus's accusations come from his own growing desperation. He lashes out because he doesn't want to face the truth.
Creon presents several arguments for why he would not want to be king. First, he asks Oedipus,
I bid thee think, Would any mortal choose a troubled reign Of terrors rather than secure repose, If the same power were given him? As for me, I have no natural craving for the name Of king, preferring to do kingly deeds, And so thinks every sober-minded man.
In other words, he asks why someone would choose to reign during troubled times instead of resting, secure in one's position and family ties? Creon believes that he already wields a great deal of power and has a high status in the kingdom (as brother-in-law to the king); why would he trade his ability to relax for an obligation to rule? Further, he says that he is simply not ambitious to be the king; he would rather do "kingly deeds," perhaps aiding the kingdom and its citizens, without actually having all the responsibilities a king must take on. Moreover, he says,
were I king, My acts would oft run counter to my will. How could a title then have charms for me Above the sweets of boundless influence?
If he were the king, Creon argues, he would have to do things that he does not want to do and make decisions, perhaps, that he does not want to make. Therefore, why would he trade his "boundless influence" and lack of responsibility for the title of king? It would only guarantee him more troubles and concerns.
Creon doesn't want to be the king because he gets a lot more stress and responsibility without extra benefits.
Creon is the brother-in-law of Oedipus Rex, the king of Thebes. His sister married Oedipus. If he wanted to be the king, Creon could have been—he was already ruling over the city after the death of the last ruler. He gave Oedipus the crown after Oedipus defeated the Sphinx and saved the city.
Creon explains that he doesn't want to be the king because it brings a lot more problems and stress to him. As the brother-in-law of the king, he already has access to the power and favor that Oedipus had. People come to him for favors, and he has lots of influence over the country and its people.
If he became the king, he'd have the same influence but a lot more problems. He'd be responsible for Thebes. He'd have to keep its people safe and secure. Currently, he's not responsible for those things. He says:
As for me, I have no natural craving for the name / Of king, preferring to do kingly deeds, / And so thinks every sober-minded man. / Now all my needs are satisfied through thee, / And I have naught to fear; but were I king, / My acts would oft run counter to my will. / How could a title then have charms for me / Above the sweets of boundless influence?
Throughout the play, Creon is displeased with the potential necessity of becoming king. He wants to stay in the position he has—but of course, things don't work out for him in the long run.
No comments:
Post a Comment