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Creon as a tragic hero
Character of creon in antigone
Creon in antigone essay
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Creon as a tragic hero
Character of creon in antigone
Creon in antigone essay
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Creon believes that he can’t change because he needs to be a leader. Creon was thought to be this new great king but in his begging he made an unwanted action that put hatred towards him from the people. All people in the world have options to do what is right and wrong and we have those around us to help us make those correct
This contributed to the fact that he was mentally lost. He had clouded judgment because of his idea of what is right for the city is the only way he would rule. As Burt describes “Creon remains adamant, and his judgment on Antigone and Ismene, along with his subsequent argument with his son, Haemon, reveals that Creon's principles are self-centered, contradictory, and compromised by his own pride, fears, and anxieties. ”(Burt). Creon can only think in his mindset and any other view to him is impossible to understand.
Haimon’s loyalty is broken between obeying his father and his lover. Creon is obsessed with his loyalty to the state; he is too stubborn and proud to listen to the people of said state. This leads to his misconception that he as king is the entirety of the state. ”I’ll have no dealings with law-breakers, critics of the government: Whoever is chosen to govern should be obeyed-- Must be obeyed, in all things, great or small, Just or Unjust!” (Sophocles, Lines 525-529).
Sometimes we just need to listen and consider the fact of other people being right and yourself wrong. But sometimes it’s hard to admit that we are wrong at times. In the play Antigone by Sophocles we see two characters that interact and contrast each other due to their visions and there mind set. In the play Antigone we comprehend the lives of the tragic family of Oedipus and King Creon, how the Gods wrath was wiped upon the kids and King Creon because the prophecy states that son will kill his father and marry his mother and have children with her, after this happened the former king was killed by Oedipus and the former queen killed herself and since they needed an heir to the throne Polyneices and Eteocles fought till death slayed by the same blood, only one got the religious burial while the other one was left to rot and eaten by the scavengers of the wild. Antigone hearing this she was driven
In the first scene of the play we meet Creon. The overly prideful power hungry King of the City of Thebes. His City has recently been met with terrible strife as his nephew Polyneices has attacked the former leader Eteocles. Being abruptly placed into power so soon after the city lost their previous leader, Creon needs to show his people that he is a strong trustworthy leader.
However, Creon is not only authoritative but also wise. An example of this is when he says, "...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" (1. 45-47). As the king of Thebes, Creon is a man whose respect is earned, not given. Creon explains to the Chorus that a man who is loyal to the state and the ruler earns his total respect. A clever ruler would compel his subjects to obey him and follow his rules without explicitly stating the consequences.
With Creon having too much ego, it initiated all the conflicts that arose. He won 't listen to anyone, even when Teiresias tells him his truthful prophecy he thinks that he is being paid off. Creon has a certain cockiness that no one in their right mind would bare. Soon Creon suffers a peripeteia, which he was warned about from many. A king, with a kingdoms submission, is easily above others; but they still suffer.
Creon was the leader of Thebes and he took his job very seriously. He wanted to have all of his citizens be loyal to him and respect his rule. This wish led Creon to a strong hatred for traitors,
Creon believes that whatever he says or decide is true, he has so much of self-righteousness. The word that Creon said “Am I to rule by other mind than mine?” (Antigone, page 26). He thinks that he should rule everything because he is a king, he believes that people should obey him and the law he sets because he thinks that it is the right thing to do. Creon does not want other people to tell him what to do.
He refuses to hear the counsel of others, even if it came from the gods. This is the last chance Creon had at potentially stopping the ensuing downfall that he will face later on in
The reader feels pity for Creon for his lack of time to grieve and his tragic mistake that led to the loss of his family, this demonstrates his goodness. Creon, recently succeeded to take the throne of Eteocles, making him king. Therefore, giving him the title of royalty and showing superiority. His power and control over Thebes makes him important, and this power and importance leads to a lack of mercy for criminals.. CREON. I have summoned you here this morning because I know that I can depend on you: your devotion to King Laius was absolute; you never hesitated in your duty to our late ruler Oedipus; and
Creon had many reason too next in line to rule Thebes. His motivation was just and honorable; therefore, making him the protagonist. Creon’s law is justified by reason. Since Thebes had two rulers, the people must have been divided on who was the best fit ruler just as the people of the United States compare the Presidential candidates. However, when the brothers go to war with each other the people also go to war, creating tension even after
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.
People might say that his pride was for the good of Thebes. This is totally inaccurate, in the process of “making Thebes better” Creon lost his family and lost the trust of the people of Thebes. Creon had no valid points. Again, his actions were overthrown by his hubris, which was the beginning of his downfall. Not listening to other people and their opinions is not a step to make Thebes a better city.
In Antigone by Sophocles, the purpose of Creon’s speech is to explain his new leadership. First, Creon wants to gain the loyalty from the citizens of Thebes. A great king would first need the trust of his state in order to rule effectively. Especially, Creon would need trust from his state after the tragic events that happened beforehand, which was Polyneices and Eteocles dying. He state this fact in his speech: “I am aware, of course, that no ruler can expect complete loyalty from his subjects until he has been tested in office.”