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Creon character in Antigone
Creon character in Antigone
Analyzing the character of creon in antigone
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I used this quote from Antigone because it properly states Antigone’s viewpoint on Creon’s decree. As told in the story, Creon's decree was that no one could grieve for or bury Polyneices. Creon made this proclamation because when Eteocles and Polyneices fought over Thebes, Eteocles was pronounced king and exiled Polyneices from Thebes. Polyneices, in turn, formed an army to take on the city, ending up with Eteocles and Polyneices killing each other, thus putting Creon in the position of power. Creon then proceeds to label Polyneices a traitor and finally, makes his decree.
In Antigone: Scene II, a fragment of a play written by a Greek general Sophocles, a story unfolds between a princess by the name of Antigone, a king named Creon, and several other characters. The scene starts off with a few words between Choragos and Sentry, both appear to be in service of Creon. Choragos caught Antigone and is asking to be seen by the King. Antigone was burying her brother against the wishes of the King. She did not deny knowing that she went against the word of the King, that she is guilty and that she is ready to face the punishment of death.
Creon shows an extraordinary amount of stubbornness throughout the story. An example is seen when Antigone wishes to give her brother, Polyneices a proper burial so he can have a pleasant afterlife with the Gods. Creon, as king wishes to have him rot in the fields because he turned his back on the state in which the events occurred.
Have you ever read the play Antigone and wondered who the tragic hero is? The tragic hero in the play is Creon, because he is a good ruler trying to restore order to Thebes but because of his pride and stubbornness he ends up alone and losing loved ones. One way we know Creon is a tragic hero is he says “This is my command, and you can see the wisdom behind it. As long as I am King, no traitor is going to be honored with the loyal man.” (Creon 1/40)
Creon is a very stubborn man because he was the king of Thebes,Antigone challenged his decree,by burying Polynices. Creon is a stubborn man because he refused to bury his own nephew, he thought his nephew was a traitor. “They say that has sworn,no one shall bury him,no one mourn for him,but his body must lie in the fields,a sweet treasure,for carrion birds to find as they search for food”(line 19-23 page 970),By saying no one shall bury him and no one mourn for him Creon is showing how stubborn he is, He’s not only saying that he won’t do it, but other people can’t do it either. Creon’s law is an example of how stubborn he is because he doesn't care of what other people think,only what he thinks matter.
and he didn’t stop to think of what will others feel or say about him and his decision. It says in the play, “Polyneices, I say, is to have no burial: no man is to touch him or say the least prayer for him.”(pg.756) Creon, as a stubborn king, doesn’t even consult or argue with the high counsel about what they should do, he just makes his decision right away when he feels he has the only right to. Creon’s choice to outlaw Polyneices’ burial without advice or consulting ultimately gave him a trait of a tragic hero in
”Lead me away. I have been rash and foolish. I have killed my son and wife. I look for comfort; my comfort lies here dead. Whatever my hands have touched has come to nothing.
Creon is portrayed as a leader by Sophocles, and in technical terms he is because he served as king. Creon's decisions, his pride, and his desire for leadership hold him back from being a successful ruler. Creon is the tragic hero is the play Antigone. After hearing of the passing of Oedipus, Creon took matters into his own hands and side with nephew, Eteocles, as he and brother Polyneices must battle for the throne.
In the tragedy, Antigone, Creon is the tragic hero and is the one partaking in what Aristotle define as “recognition.” Recognition, according to Aristotle, is something that all tragedy needs and “is a change from ignorance to knowledge, producing love or hate between the persons destined by the poet for good or bad fortune,” (Aristotle, part XI). Aristotle defines ignorance to knowledge as the tragic hero recognizing his ignorant self after the hero has encountered something drastic. Recognition was noticed in Antigone when Creon was arrogant but figures it out after his whole family had died because of his selfish way. Creon has shown throughout Antigone his ignorance and showed his knowledge near the end of the tragedy.
In the tragedy Antigone by Sophocles, Creon is an authoritative and wise ruler. For example, when Creon addresses the Chorus, he says, "...and as for the man who sets private friendship above the public welfare -- I have no use for him either" (1.23-25). Clearly, Creon informs the Chorus that he has "no use" for anyone who practices favoritism, and he makes it clear that he expects each of his officers to act professionally and responsibly. Though this lack of tolerance may seem cruel, it only helps Creon to assert his authority over the others; but one could argue that this quality is necessary to maintain order in one's kingdom. Obviously, as stated by Creon earlier that, "no ruler can expect complete loyalty for his subjects until he has
Almost always, in Greek tragedies a “tragic hero” has a hamartia, or tragic flaw, which will cause their concluding demise. In the Greek playwright, Antigone written by Sophocles, the interesting character, Creon, is a prime example of this. According the Aristotle’s theory, to be a tragic hero you have to have three traits: a flaw, a fall, and acceptance of your current situation. Creon’s flaw is his ego, which blinds him and lures him to do rather profane activities. Due to Creon’s ego, him losing everything caused by that very hamartia, and acceptance of the series of unfortunate events that occurred; Creon is the tragic hero in Antigone
After reading the tragedy of Antigone by Sophocles, one is left to wonder who the protagonist of this play is. Is it Creon or is it Antigone? To answer this question, one must define what a protagonist is. By definition, a protagonist is a leading actor or a character. Creon fits this description because not only do his actions lead into the whole tragedy, but his character shows a great development and the values he teaches to the readers.
In the play "Antigone" by Sophocles, Antigone rightfully decides to bury her brother, Polynices, but when the king, Creon, finds out, she does not repent for her actions. She is a woman that stands for what she thinks is right, which in this case is that Creon is wrong for condemning the burial of her brother. She shows braveness with her actions because not all people have the courage to risk their own lives so that their brother can rest in peace. For instance, Ismene states "What? You 'd bury him – when a law forbids the city?"
Creon is the protagonist in Antigone, because his motivation throughout Antigone is the stability and wellbeing of Thebes. Moreover, Antigone is the antagonist in Antigone, because her motivation is selfish and deceiving. In Antigone the setting is Thebes post the death of both airs to the throne. Eteocles dies defending his country from his brother Polynieces which died attempting to reclaim his right to the throne. The conflict throughout Antigone is Antigone’s responsibility to bury her brother Polynices and the law created by Creon, the new king of Thebes, which states that “No one shall bury him, no one mourn for him.”
In Antigone the new King Creon immediately abuses his power by ruling that Polyneices is to have no interment, even though he is heir of the former King and many believe him to be a warrior with honor. King Creon says, ”Polyneices, I say is to have no burial: no man is to touch him or say the least prayer for him: he shall lie on the plain, unburied: and the birds and the scavenging dogs can do with him whatever they like.” (Lines 43-46) This is an obvious corruption of power and an attempt to rule over others by force. It seems that he is trying to intimidate others to obey his edict to gain control by force.