The Theban Plays -- Despair.

What is the meaning of "Despair" and how does this theme manifest itself in both plays?

Loss of hope or despair in these plays represents a huge part, mainly with Oedipus. He was trying to get away from the inevitable. The prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother was something that he did not want to happen. He left his home from hi "parents" to stop the prophecy. This, however, did not work. He ended up finding that his so-called parents were not his biological parents after all. This led one thing to another and back to the realization that the prophecy had come true. After running from it for so long he had despair for his life because of what he found out. He seems to lose everything. He loses the kingship, his family, and much more.

Antigone had despair too. She was brought into the world unaware that Oedipus was not only her father, but her brother too and her mother was also her grandmother. After that was found out she was treated differently. She no longer had parents because they were dead. All she had was her sister and brothers. When her brothers died fighting against each other that brought even more despair. Topping onto that the new king, Creon, took away the burial rights of one of her brothers. She was against this completely and decided no matter what the outcome she would find a way to give him a proper burial. She did, but had consequences, as she knew she would, because of it.