Despair- Grade this one!

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

~Answer~
Despair means to lose, give up, or be without hope. The plays in this book show a lot of scenes where there are moments of despair. They are without hope.
One of the places where despair is show is when all the towns people come to the palace and beg for help from the king. They have tried everything and has givin up hope. They don't know what else to do so they turn to the king. He also says that he has been suffereing just as much or even more. I think the king has also given up hope until he founds out what is going on and what he needs to do, from Creon, the messager and also his brother-in-law.
Another scene where one of the charactors has despair is when Jocasta finally realizes that King Oedipus is actually her son. She is very frightened and also she feels shame. In the beginning she shows no signs of despair. She has hope, but by the end of the play, all her despair is gone. She has no hope left. She knows what happened and she is sad, shameful, and also mad at the same time. She says to King Oedipus, "O lost and damned! This is my last and only word to you for ever!" (55) She kills herself because of the sorrows she has experienced and also because she thinks she hasn't anymore reason to live.
At this same time in the book King Oedipus also gives up hope when he finds out who he really is. He especially does when he finds his wife, who is his mother, dead. He is hearbroken and has no hope. He also thinks they has no reason to see anymore. All he sees is darkness around him. He has surrenderd. Oedipus shows a lot examples of despair in the book, but I think this one stands out the most.

In the play Antigone, Haemon is the son of Creon, he also is the one who will be marring Antigone. After he finds out what has happend he goes to see his father to try and talk him out of killing his future bride. They argue a lot, but Creon will not listen to his son at all. As much a Haemon argues and fights for his way this father will not back down. So he gives up hope (despair) and backs down from fighting. His father knows he has won so he wants Haemon to watch his bride be exucuted. Haemons then says, "That sight I'll never see. Nor from this hour shall you see me again. Let those that will be witness of your wickedness and folly." (147) This means that he knows he has lost the battle with his father and has despair about winning his side, but rather than giving what Creon wants; he says he is leaving and will never see his father again. He will not be apart of his fathers wickedness that he practices.
Another part in the book where despair is show is when Antigone knows she is going to be killed. She has givin up hope; theres no more that she can do to help herself. She also gives up hope when she is placed in the cave by Creon, she knows her fate so she hangs herself to save herself from misery.