In the play Antigone, by Sophocles, the two sons of Oedipus, Eteocles and Polyneices die fighting for the position of King. Their uncle, Creon, then turns to take the throne. Creon rules that Eteocles has a proper burial and since Polynices was fighting on the opposing side, he considered him a traitor, so he left him unburied. Antigone and Ismene, Oedipus’s daughters, grieved the loss of their brothers. Antigone then turns out to be uncooperative with Creon’s ruling. She buries the unburied corpse of her brother. Creon gets furious when he finds out someone disobeyed him. He soon found out it was Antigone and sentences her to death. Creon's son, Haemon who also happens to be Antigone’s fiancé, proposes to Creon that he should rethink his decision. …show more content…
Then, the blind prophet, Tiresias notifies Creon that the gods aren't happy with his decision of not burying Polyneices. Creon curses Tiresias and calls him a false prophet. Tiresias turns angry at Creon for being stubborn and not taking his advice. When Tiresias leaves, the chorus leader tells Creon to listen to the wise prophet. Being disturbed by Tiresias’s prophecy, Creon listens to the chorus leader. Before Creon can change anything, Antigone commits suicide in her cell causing Haemon to also commit suicide. When Creon's wife, Eurydice, finds out about her son, she as well commits suicide. Creon realizes he did wrong too late for being selfish, stubborn, and prideful. Creon's downfall as a tragic hero occurs when his laws compete with the Gods' fate.Antigone is a strong, defiant woman who strongly believes and is motivated by the Gods and her loyalty to her family. In their interactions, Creon is motivated by his pride in ruling as king. Antigone believes Hades the God of the dead, “still desires equal rites for both” (line 592), meaning she believes the Gods wanted the same for both brothers, no matter what side they were …show more content…
In lines (855-858), Creon says, “but your words all speak on her behalf,” Haemon responds with, “and yours and mines and the Gods below.” Creon is trying saying that Haemon is on Antigone’s side and not his. Then Haemon explains he is not only speaking on her behalf, but also his, Creon's, and the Gods. But Creon doesn't understand and is being reluctant towards Haemon’s response. This shows how Creon is being stubborn for being inflexible towards Haemon's response. Another characteristic of Creon that is highlighted during the conversation is defensive when it came to the uncertainty of his ruling. In lines (831-833) Haemon says, “the people here in Thebes all say the same- they deny she is”, and Creon responds with,” so the city will instruct me how I am to govern.” Haemon explains all the citizens of Thebes think Antigone performed a heroic act by burying her brother, and they think she shouldn’t be considered guilty. Creon becomes over sensitive and foolishly says the city will tell him how to govern. This shows how defensive Creon is when it comes to the uncertainty of his ruling and him not listening to Haemon develops the belief of creon’s downfall of a tragic
During their conversation about Antigone’s punishment and how the public are reacting to it, he tells Creon “because of who you are, you can't perceive all the things' men say or do” which consequentially not only reveals how narrowminded Creon is by jumping to conclusions, but it also reminds Creon to listen to what people have to say (782-783). This subsequentially contrasts Haemon's logical thinking and open mind with Creon's intolerant thinking highlighting Creon's trait of narrow mindedness by displaying Creon's inability to listen, perceive and acknowledge what people say. In addition, this shows that Creon could be misinterpreting what others say or do, in this case Haemon thinks he does so with Antigone, telling him “Surely she deserves some golden honour,” suggesting to Creon that death is unfair for her punishment (792). Implying that his punishment is unfair again displays that Creon is narrowminded because the fact that he does not want to listen to what anybody says including his son Haemon, is more than enough proof that Creon is narrowminded. Overall, both pieces of evidence exhibit Haemon being a foil to Creon with Haemon being calm and logical vs Creon's narrowminded
It is heartbreaking to witness his own son telling him about his misguidance and trying to mend King Creon, but Creon is aiming so hard to be completely perfect that he does not realize it. Many people tried to open his eyes, yet they were frightened by the power he hold. Tiresias, a prophet in the story, declares “stubbornness brands you for stupidity – pride is a crime” (Sophocles, 2.1136-1137). A prophet, someone who King Creon knew, trusted and had taken advice from in the past. Tiresias tried to warn him and change him accomplishing nothing.
Creon hates the fact Antigone broke the laws and did not repent, making him think that she is above him. " She laughs at what she's done. Well, in that case,if she gets her way and goes unpunished, then she's the man here not me," (scene 2 line 545-546). He feels if she is not punished, Antigone would become the man and he the women. He would father lose his power before letting that happen.
Sophocles explores the nature of leadership by making Creon a ruler who rules out of fear, demands complete devotion no matter the circumstance, and is unable to accept advice. These flaws in his character will evidently leave him bemoaning his decisions at the end of the play. Creon's ideology of ruling out of fear is prevalent in the first few pages of the play. In the beginning, Creon proclaims his edict by saying Etocles will have a proper burial but because Polynices fought on the opposing army he will be left for, "birds in search of
But of who you are, you can’t perceive all the things men say or do or their complaints. ”Even the people have discussed how Creon may be wrong and that Antigone should be rewarded for her courageous act to bury her brother who was left by creon for the dogs. Haemon believes that his father Creon should give Antigone the right to be free. “They say of all the women here she least deserves the worst of deaths for her most glorious act. When in the slaughter of her own brother died, she did not just leave him unburied, to be ripped apart by carrion dogs or birds.
Haemon, Creon's son who was to marry Antigone, tell his father to try to change his mind for the better. Creon is very mad at the fact that his son took the side of a women. Haemon leaves and said he was never coming back. Without admitting that Haemon may be right, Creon felt guilty for what he did so she lets Ismene go and Antigone get the die from die of starvation rather than stoned to death by the city.
Haemon, Creon’s son, knew that his father’s decisions are not in the best interest for Thebes, so he tries sharing his perspective in the most respectful way, but ends up failing to get through to him. Sophocles portrays Antigone’s ambition, Creon’s stubbornness, and Haemon’s perspective, indicating that “unshakable
This infuriates Antigone, which causes her to rush out and bury her brother. The guards rush in the next morning and inform Creon that Polyneices’s body has been buried. This news enrages Creon and he orders the person responsible to be captured and
When Haemon confronts Creon about Antigone defying the decree, he goes to the defense of not only Antigone but also the town when he says, “-the city is upset about the girl. They say of all women here she least deserves the worst of deaths for her most glorious act. When on the slaughter her own brother died, she did not just leave him there unburied, to be ripped apart by carrion dogs or birds. Surely she deserves some golden honour?” (Lines 786-792) After Haemon makes his argument, Creon proceeds to argue with him further, bringing out his insecurity.
“…even if she were closer than my sister’s child, closer than any who shares my family’s chapel, she and her sister will not escape the worst fate” by saying that, he believes she will stop with the arguments and simply follow his laws however, it’s quite the opposite what happens next. She mocks him even more by questioning, “Do you want something more than killing me?” Later on into the scene, they start discussing the death of Polynices and Eteocles, while Creon believes that Polynices shouldn’t deserve to be buried and that the gods wouldn’t like him because he is bad person. “The good don’t want to share honors with the bad” However, in the other hand Antigone replies by saying that both of them should be buried, this causes Creon to enrage and exclaim “No woman will rule
In the classic play by Sophocles, Antigone is a tragic story of the bold Antigone who defied her uncle, King Creonʻs, edict by burying her brother, Polyneices, who died attacking the city of Thebes, trying to take the power away from their brother, Eteocles, who refused to share the throne with Polyneices. Even though Antigone knew that going against Creon and burying her brother would not end well for her, she still choose to risk her life to do what is right. After being caught breaking the law, Antigone is appointed to be locked away, isolated in a cave until she dies, but she hangs herself at the end. At the same time, things for Creon are not looking good, as everyone around him seems to be against him in his decision for punishing Antigone. Everyone Creon cares about kills themselves from a curse that is put on Creon for not following the Godsʻ laws.
The burial of Polyneices is viewed nobly, yet Antigone is not faultless in that act. One of Antigone’s largest mistakes is that she burns bridges with those that care about her. Pleading with Antigone, Ismene laments “why would I care to live when you are gone?” (548). Antigone dismisses this heartfelt plea by deferring Ismene to Creon, thus isolating herself from her only kin.
Haemon’s misuse of words and actions, Creon’s development of a tragic hero, and the interactions between Haemon and Creon brings the reader to Creon’s eventual downfall. Fore he was to late, Antigone had hung herself, causing Haemon to follow through with his suicide out of love for his Antigone, in which causes Creon’s wife to kill herself as well. Making Creon realize how he destroyed everything he loved. Leaving him with nothing except a crumbling
Oh pity! All true, all true, and more than I can bear! O my wife, my Son! (5. 109-111) Creon’s death sentence for Antigone led to his son’s suicide, which then caused the suicide of his wife.
Creon arranges that the two ladies be briefly bolted up. Haemon, Creon 's child and Antigone 's fiancé, enters to vow steadfastness to his father. He at first appears to obey Creon, yet when Haemon tenderly tries to influence his father to extra Antigone, the examination disintegrates and the two men are soon severely offending each other. Haemon leaves, vowing never to see