Betrayal

    Oedipus interrogates Creon in attempts to discover who is plotting against him, and essentially uncover the true murderer of King Laius. “For God’s sake, tell me what you saw in me, what cowardice or what stupidity, that made you lay a plot like this against me?” (616-618). According to Oedipus, Creon commits an act of betrayal and should be killed or at minimum, be sent away from the land of Thebes. Creon is Oedipus’s brother-in-law, Jocasta’s brother, meaning he is close family making the “betrayal” a much larger offense in Oedipus’s eyes. In response to the accusation, Creon states, “Do not charge me on obscure opinion without some proof to back it” (709-710). Creon defends himself using the prophet’s words as support. Although, Oedipus is myopic and convinces himself that he is innocent while Creon is the culprit for the death of King Laius.   

    At this point in the play, dramatic irony is present since Oedipus is clueless, while other characters and the readers are aware of the truth – Oedipus is the true pollution. From the moment Teiresias informs Oedipus that he is the murderer, Oedipus’s mind narrows and alters the truth into lies. Oedipus refuses to accept others statements and accuses Creon of betrayal; he will not accept fault, so he throws someone who once was a close ally under the bus.   

    This political cartoon resembles betrayal in a combat situation between the United States and Afghanistan. America attempted to train Afghanistan people to increase their chance of winning the war and to remove more American troops. However, some Afghanistan troops used their training to support the enemy – an act of betrayal. This cartoon resembles Oedipus’s mindset; he is the American victim on the ground while the Afghanistan man, Creon, is the betrayer.