Creon's Tragic Analysis

As demonstrated throughout the Greek tragedy Antigone, Creon’s tragic flaw is hubris which causes his downfall . The downfall begins when Creon refuses to give Polyneices, the son of Oedipus and the brother of Antigone, a burial. Creon believes that Polyneices did not die an honorable death as he broke exile and raised the sword against his home city, Thebes, so in return he will not receive a burial. Creon’s pride takes over and so he believes he is a man not only superior to women , but a king superior to the gods. He claims, Go out of your heads entirely? ‘The gods!’ Intolerable! The gods favor this corpse? Why? How had he served them? Tried to loot their temples, burn their images, Yes, and the whole State, and its laws with it! Is it

As long as I am King, no traitor is going to be honored with the loyal man. But whoever shows by word and deed that he is on the side of the State,––he shall have my respect while he is living and my reverence when he is dead ( Scene 1).
Creon’s regards towards his own laws cause him to withdraw from all other beliefs or opinions that others have to offer him. He believes that the people of Thebes should obey his rules if they want his support. Overall, Sophocles shows Creon as a hubristic character as he demonstrates to be giving his words, his laws more importance than the laws and morals of the gods.
Although Creon is prideful he is also stubborn. Creon makes accusations toward Antigone and many other characters before considering the wise advice from the state and the others around him. Creon does not heed to those who advise him , as he is stubborn. Haimon , Creon’s son warns him that the people of Thebes sympathize with Antigone. Haemon tells his father, I beg you, do not be unchangeable: Do not believe that you alone can be right. The man who thinks that, The man who maintains that only he has the power To reason correctly, the gift to speak, to soul–– A man like that, when you know him, turns out empt. (Scene

Creon exhibits great pride in his decisions since he believes that everything he says or does is in the well interest of everyone when in reality that is not the case. Creon wants to be a great king , one who has control over his people, but while trying to be a great king he ends up misusing his power. His power becomes his pride ,and his unwillingness to listen to others. As a result his wife commits suicide in the grief of her son whom Creon had not listened to. The messenger claims , “And for Haimon dead, her sons; and her last breath Was a curse for their father, the murder of her sons. And she fell, and the dark flowed in through her closing eyes”(Éxodos). This reflects a result of Creon’s pride. Had he not been stubborn and listened to his son,he would have not dealt with the sorrow, or the grief his wife went through. He would have not faced her wrath ,in a curse that she left him before she died. Creon’s hubris also resulted in his life , his comfort falling apart. Creon regretfully says “I have killed my son and my wife. I look for comfort; my comfort lies here dead. Whatever my hands have touched has come to nothing. Fate has brought all my pride to a thought of dust” (Exodos). Creon comes to his senses when it was too late. His pride had destroyed his life ,he had no more comfort. He lost his loved ones just like the prophet said