How does Creon reveal important character traits in this section?

CHORUS

Here is Creon; he will advise you about what you should do.

He rules the country now and is our sole protector.

OEDIPUS

What can I say to him?

How can he trust anything I say?

Everything I said or did before was wrong.

Enter CREON.

CREON

I am not here to taunt you, or to criticize you for past wrongs. But if you have no shame before me, at least respect the light of the sun that fosters all things.

Do not show your crime, one that neither the earth, nor the holy rain, nor the light can tolerate.

To a slave.

Now take him into the house.

It is right that only his family

should see and hear about his sufferings.

OEDIPUS

Since, beyond my wildest hopes,

you have acted as the best of men towards me, the worst of men,

I beg of you one favor. I ask it for your sake, not mine.

CREON

And what is it that you would ask of me?

OEDIPUS

Throw me out of this land as quickly as possible, to a place where no living person will speak to me.

CREON

I would have done exactly that, but I wanted to consult first with the oracle to find out what must be done.

OEDIPUS

But it’s clear what he said,

that I, the unholy father-killer, should die.

CREON

It is better to learn what must be done in the present crisis.

OEDIPUS

Will you ask about me, miserable man that I am?

CREON

Yes. And this time, even you should trust the god.

OEDIPUS

I ask you to bury her who is inside – for it is right she be buried by her own family -

but as for me, don’t tell my father’s city to shelter me,

but let me go live in the mountains, in that place called Cithaeron, which, when they were alive, my mother and father wanted to be my tomb.

Let me die where they tried to kill me.

I know that I would not have died

from sickness or anything else: I was saved from death for something terrible and evil.

Let my fate lead where it will.

Don’t worry about my boys, Creon; they are men and can earn their own living wherever they are.

Don’t I hear my dear ones crying now?

Creon has pitied me, and sent me my dearest beloved daughters?

Is this so?

CREON

You are right. I gave you this.

I knew that they would bring you a moment of joy, as they always did in the past.