Portraying himself as the third member of a ruling triumvirate, Kreon unintentionally underscores the way in which he is implicated in the confusion of over-determined relationships, for he is connected by blood and marriage to both members of the royal couple; he is Oidipous’s uncle by blood and brother by marriage just as he is Iokaste’s brother by blood and uncle by marriage. The contamination by pollution radiates outwards from the core relationships to those closest to them. [Gd] [Me] [Mw]