Throughout the history of literature, authors and playwrights have often used a foil – a character whose purpose is to create a contrast with the main character who allows the interpretation of the latter's attributes to consolidate their presence. The ancient Greek tragedian Sophocles, in his play Oedipus Rex, seamlessly weaves his complementary character, Creon, into the tapestry of the intricate plot not only allowing Creon's character traits to contrast those of Oedipus, but also giving him his greatness in the events and direction of the show. Although Creon – who is at once Oedipus' uncle, brother-in-law, and right-hand man – demonstrates many qualities that provide stark relief from those of the title character, those that perhaps provide the best point of contrast are Creon's reactions, his piety and its priorities. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay One of the most critical elements of the plot's rising action is the ongoing conflict between Creon and Oedipus, in which the first of their differences truly comes to light. Where Oedipus is portrayed as a frenzied and paranoid king, Creon's mature reactions to Oedipus' attempts at provocation could not be more different. When Oedipus accuses Creon of “robbery of [his] crown” (l. 615), Creon's only response to such a far-fetched statement is to calmly request an explanation which is equally composedly rejected by him. When Oedipus proceeds with his unfounded accusations, often peppered with poorly concealed insults, Creon does not allow himself to be provoked into any reaction that goes beyond calm and logical responses, as demonstrated by his attempt to explain to the king that he has no motivation. frame him, since he already enjoys all the advantages of a high-ranking position without being burdened by the weight of its responsibilities. Oedipus, however, refuses to listen to the voice of reason: each subsequent exchange between them further emphasizes how illogical and unstable Oedipus can be. Another key difference between the two characters is their drastically different views of divinity and their reverence - or lack thereof - of the gods. Creon, who establishes himself as a devout man from the beginning of the play, often refers to the gods in conversations, always careful to stay within his mortal confines. He also mentions that he waits "to learn from the God [Apollo] the course [he] should follow" (l. 1620) before making any decisions, thus demonstrating his faith in destiny. Oedipus, on the other hand, becomes famous for his arrogance, his pride so excessive that he believes himself superior to the gods. In his first conversation with the prophet Tiresias, Oedipus criticizes the power of the gods and their oracles: “When the sphinx, the dark singer, was in your country, did you speak a word of deliverance to its citizens? Yet the answer to the enigma was not the result of chance. It was the job of a prophet and it is clear that you did not have the gift of prophecy from the birds or any other God to gather a word of knowledge. But I came, Oedipus, who knew nothing, and stopped her. I solved the riddle with my wits alone. Mine was not bird-derived knowledge. (l. 455-463)Make it original!We will create a custom essay on “The Character of Creon as a Complement of Oedipus in “Oedipus Rex”” written according to your specifications.Order a custom essayIn this excerpt, Oedipus' true feelings about the his rise to power and his overall dignity attract the attention of both the other characters and the audience. Oedipus, simply put, has been blinded..