Metaphors In Antigone

In scene II of Antigone, the extract was said by Creon to the Choragus, while Antigone was present. Sophocles, the author, uses several metaphors to illustrate fate to those who refuse to change their minds. For instance, “the inflexible heart breaks first”, means that people who have a hard heart and refuse to consider others are the first to have their hearts broken. Also, Sophocles writes: “toughest iron cracks first”, implying tough iron cracks first and more easily than softer iron, Antigone as tough and strong women will break first. In addition, Sophocles writes: “and the wildest horses bend their necks at the pull of the smallest curb” implying horses can be controlled by the pull of an iron piece in their mouths, and even though horses are wild and strong they can be controlled easily. Therefore, several metaphors are used by Creon to

Creon says that stubborn people always end up hurting themselves that their hamartia is so strong that it inevitably leads to their own downfall. Creon compares stubbornness to these items to show just how it can break a person. This moment is ironic because Creon himself is stubborn in a sense that he will not change his views about the law and how the laws should be above everything else, so Creon is being a hypocrite because he is just as stubborn as she is. Also, Creon describes how easily he believes it will be to break Antigone’s willed with all the metaphors used. He also shows how far above her he thinks himself by saying “she had much to learn”. He is almost belittling her and treating her like a child with these words, and this can describe Creon’s hubris. Thus, this can also show his character he sees others flaws rather than his own and blames others without knowing he is the one to blame. Therefore, Creon is shown as a hypocrite with the irony