What Is The Difference Between Antigone And Creon Abuse Of Power

Emmeline Weimer

Griffin

AP Literature and Composition

17 January 2023

Humans throughout history have always looked for a desire for power. In the Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone does not conform to the monarchy which results in her untimely death. Throughout the tragedy, we see Antigone taking power from Creon and Creon trying to take back his control. Although Creon and Antigone believe their actions are for the greater good, ultimately the human drive for control pushes away all valuable relationships and often results in the downfall of humanity. Antigone and Creon have an ongoing power struggle throughout the entirety of Antigone. Creon finds himself struggling to control Antigone's actions but she feels as though he did

Antigone is seen as a feminist for her actions against Creon but her actions are a bit extreme. While referring to Antigone, Creon thinks her hate for the anarchy is ruining the good name of the City he is trying to restore. “What evils are not wrought by Anarchy! She ruins States, and overthrows the home, She dissipates and routs the embattled host; While discipline preserves the ordered ranks.” Antigones suicide is her regaining control, they go back and forth between each other even to her death. Antigone representing feminist views, can only mean Creon represents masculinity. He needs to be in control to be secure in his masculinity, he can not let a woman over power him which was a driving force in his decision to lock her in a cave. Once Creon finally regains control, Antigone does something that makes him not only weaker to her but weaker to the city as a whole. He does not have control anymore, not even over how she dies, and that makes him feel weaker. Becoming king was Creon finding control and orderly balance, Antigone was a disruption in

Antigone's death shows how forceful Creon has become. He not only calls upon the death of Antigone but her death results in two more, his wife and son. Sophocles uses these deaths to show how a desire for power pushes people away. Antigone killing herself only drains Creon's power even more. By the end of the tragedy, Creon is left without anyone. “Lead me away, a vain silly man who killed you, son, and you, too, lady. I did not mean to, but I did.” Creon crying out to the gods in this manner emphasizes that he knows his actions are what caused him this pain. He knows he let his need for control over power affect his judgement. The death of his family emphasizes this. Sophocles uses Creon crying out to the gods to show he has learned the error of his ways through the deaths of his