Moral Decisions In Antigone

In Sophocles’ devastating ancient Greek tragedy Antigone, the life of Antigone, a brave independent woman who is forced to question her morals, drastically changes due to fate and crucial decisions that are made. When Antigone’s brother Polyneices is killed at war, he is not given a proper burial, nor is he allowed to, according to Antigone’s uncle and the King of the state, Creon. Antigone wants to bury him, therefore causing the characters to struggle with the decision of who is morally correct. This theme of choosing between following one’s individual conscience or following the state’s law is seen throughout the entire play, and the three main characters who struggle with this decision are Antigone, Creon, and Ismene. Antigone, the brave female protagonist in the play, is determined to

Throughout the tragedy, Creon demonstrates acts of excessive pride and stubbornness due to his desire to “follow the course that he knows is best for the state” (Sophocles 6), but because of this hamartia he possesses, he forgets to appreciate and value his family. When Creon describes how important the state of Thebes is, he says that “the state is king” (Sophocles 27), proving that it is his utmost priority as a king. This idea also appears during a conversation between Creon and his son Haimon. Haimon was going to marry Antigone, and when he tries to convince his father not to kill her, Creon asks “if I permit my own family to rebel, how shall I earn the world’s obedience?” (Sophocles 25). This quotation displays Creon’s focus on the state, forgetfulness of his family, and stubborn personality when not listening to other’s opinions. All three of these traits that Creon possesses prove that he is determined and in a right mindset, but all of them also lead to his downfall at the end of the