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How Does Haemon Be A Foil To Creon

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Theatrical performances such as Greek tragedy's, even when written years ago can still teach lessons and tell stories. One of these tragedies called Antigone, is about the downfall of a king named Creon during the aftermath of two brothers’ feuds during which they both are killed, one is buried and the other is not. Along with this, the sister of both brothers Antigone, rebels against the king's rule to honor one the unburied brothers and while she ends up successfully burying him, Antigone ends up getting caught committing a crime the king made illegal. This consequently leads to her death along with the tragic ending of Creon. In the Greek tragedy Antigone, written by author Sophocles, the audience can see Haemon being a foil to Creon highlighting …show more content…

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

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1072 Words | 5 Pages

As Haemon delivers his speech he encourages Creon that with his positive traits, he can take criticism in a mature way that will allow him to recognize the right thing to do. If Creon can listen with sympathy he can forgive Antigone and not go through with the execution. When Haemon continues with his speech to Creon he starts to try to make him feel good about himself, so Creon can start thinking about forgiving Antigone. As Haemon tries to make Creon listen to him he starts to bring up traits that will make Creon feel more powerful. Haemon states, “Father, no greater treasure can I have Than your prosperity / no son can find a greater prize than his father’s fame, / No father than his son’s”

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"Father, the gods implant reason in men, the highest of all things that we call our own. Not to act senselessly is shared by brutes." (Sophocles, lines 708-710) Haemon judging his dad’s behavior and Creon’s gender bias makes the audience think that they are both insecure about themselves. Haemon’s pride in thinking women are less superior to men causes him not to look at other of views on his option.

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Creon agrees but in turn he does not. This results in the loss of his son Haemon who kills himself after he sees Antigone dead. If Creon listened to the advice things could have turned out

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At times the one who is trusted the most, is the one who should be the least as Creon has demonstrated to his son, Haemon. In Antigone by Sophocles Creon is a ruler of Thebes and is very serious about his ruling there and won’t let anybody get in the way. Antigone, the main character has gone through so much tragedy in her family; her father, mother, and brothers had died except her only sister, Ismene. One of her brothers wasn’t at peace and Creon wanted it to remain that way, however she was rebellious and defied him and had to suffer the consequences, although she was engaged to his son, Haemon. Haemon respected his father's wishes and stood by him except the fact that he believed that his father was in the wrong and wasn't a great leader

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The Tragic Hero “Your gaze makes citizens afraid-they can’t say anything you would not like to hear”(783-784). King Creon has so much power that the citizens of Thebes fear him. In the play Antigone, Sophocles uses Haemon’s ideas to contrast with Creon’s idea to punish Antigone which makes him into a tragic hero and advances the plot to show him what the people of Thebes believe about Antigone’s act.

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Creon believed that his thoughts, actions and beliefs were superior to everyone else’s. Creon wanted his son to, “stand behind your father’s judgment on every issue...” When someone's thoughts opposed Creon’s he would insult the adversary by saying, “what you’re about to say enrages me completely and reveals that you’re not only old but stupid, too” (326-328).

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Antigone is one of the greatest tragedies ever written by Sophocles. There is a controversial question about this play: Who is the tragic hero? Could it be Antigone or Creon? Even though the play’s name is Antigone, but as I read the story. A sensible and responsible king, Creon, is a tragic hero because of his power madness, self-righteousness, and ruthlessness.

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Ironically, he states that “the mind that is most rigid stumbles soonest,” which would lead one to assume that his leadership style would be flexible (473-474). Creon has the correct intentions by attempting to follow the established law, yet contradicts his statement on a rigid mindset by allowing no exception in Antigone’s case. Creon is in a difficult position

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“A city which belongs to just one man is no true city.” (lines 838-39) Throughout the play, Antigone, written by Sophocles, the character Haemon constantly tries to persuade his father, Creon, to listen to the people of his city and to become a more humble leader. Haemon’s words, actions, and ideas contrast with Creon’s character. Which results in the two characters having continual conflicting motivations.

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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.

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Haemon and his father have several disputes that show, Creon pushing his son away in order to show his dominance. Creon calls his son a “soul of corruption, rotten through” which just reflects how cruel Creon had become, even when talking to his own son (836). This will be the last argument the two have before Haemon kills himself due to neglect and longing for Antigone. The power of the crown causes Creon to act instinctively rather than reasonably when deciding Antigone's fate. His loyalty to his power becomes priority over his family, when he decrees his nephews burial illegal.

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809 Words | 4 Pages

The play, Antigone, is a tragedy written by the Greek poet Sophocles. A common theme among tragedies is that they have a tragic hero, and Antigone is no different. The tragic hero of this poem is Creon, the King of Thebes. Creon is faced with the difficult task of punishing his niece, Antigone. She has broken one of his laws stating that no one is to give proper burial rites to Polyneices, Antigone’s brother, because he tried to overthrow Creon.

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1092 Words | 5 Pages

In Sophocles’ play Antigone, Creon, the king of Thebes, best represents a tragic hero. Creon demonstrates goodness in his intentions for Thebes as well as his fragile state due to the fact that he recently lost several family members. Creon, newly named king, finds himself as highest ranking official around, showing superiority. Creon often acts stubborn and prideful, his tragic flaw. And lastly, he must come to terms with the fact that he caused the death of his wife, son, and niece.

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Creon almost seemed like he wanted Haimon to be angry so he put Antigone in the vault. He couldn’t see that Haemon was in love and Antigone was just trying to honor the dead because of his hubris. Creon also says, “My own blind heart has brought me from darkness to final darkness.” This shows he knows he didn’t use his intelligence to solve his problems. He was already heading the wrong direction with his pride and it finally was too much.

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757 Words | 4 Pages

Antigone’s love is so great for her brother that she went against the king and buried him with religious rights. Then Haemon kills himself because Antigone had died and he wanted to be with her. In the end Creon’s wife killed herself because her son had died. Creon is perceived as the tragic hero of the play when he is talking

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