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Why Is Creon Wrong

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Recommended: Analyzing the character of creon in antigone

To begin with, in the beginning of the second episode, Sophocles establishes a conflict between Creon and Oedipus. When Oedipus sees Creon at his palace, he scolds, “You-here? You have the gall / to show your face before the palace gates? / You, plotting to kill me, kill the king- / I see it all, the marauding thief himself / scheming to steal my crown and power!” (Sophocles 594-598). Oedipus is convinced that Creon hired Tiresias to reveal false statements, so Creon could take over and become king. However, this is a false accusation, for what Tiresias proclaimed was true, and Oedipus did kill the previous king, his father, and marry his mother. Nevertheless, Oedipus does not change his judgement. When speaking to the Chorus on this matter, Oedipus reviles Creon, “He, wherever he goes, my hate goes with him” (Sophocles 745). …show more content…

Eventually, Creon gives up and announces, “I’m going. / You’re wrong, so wrong. These men know I’m right” (Sophocles 749-750). Their conflict has escalated to the point where Creon and Oedipus’ relationship has been temporarily cut. This characterizes the severity of their conflict, for in this setting, abandoning one’s kin was frowned upon. Oedipus’ suspicions can be expected of a king. Throughout history, there have been many instances of a relative of the king murdering the king and taking over. However, in this case, Creon does not intend to create Oedipus’ downfall or take over as king. Creon has the full right to retaliate to Oedipus’ charge because he is innocent and is defending the truth. If Oedipus had been less stubborn, he would have seen Creon’s innocence and avoid this

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When Creon is first introduced, he does not hold any major responsibilities. He is considerate, rational, and respectful toward Oedipus. When Oedipus first starts to search for Laius’s killer, Creon personally recommends that he seek out Tiresias, which,

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In Sophocles’s Oedipus Rex, Oedipus’ impulsive behavior and stubbornness leads to his catastrophic downfall. Oedipus “levels terrible charges” (574) at Creon because he believes that Creon conspired with Tiresias to kill King Laius. Instead of proceeding “calmly” and “rationally” (652), Oedipus accuses Creon of “scheming to steal [his] crown and power” (598). Oedipus refuses to let Creon defend himself. Moreover, Oedipus does not have evidence to prove his accusations against Creon.

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Sophocles explores the nature of leadership by making Creon a ruler who rules out of fear, demands complete devotion no matter the circumstance, and is unable to accept advice. These flaws in his character will evidently leave him bemoaning his decisions at the end of the play. Creon's ideology of ruling out of fear is prevalent in the first few pages of the play. In the beginning, Creon proclaims his edict by saying Etocles will have a proper burial but because Polynices fought on the opposing army he will be left for, "birds in search of

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King Creon was Oedipus’ uncle and brother-in-law. Creon did not allow for Polyneices to be buried because Polyneices betrayed him and the town. Antigone wanted to do as the gods said, which was burying her brother, but doing so led her to a sequence of problems. Creon is the tragic hero in “Antigone” because he is excessively prideful and stubborn as a king. Creon’s downfall began with him not burying Polyneices and ended with him being alone without a family.

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Creon does not even give Antigone a second chance. He is sticking to his rule and there is nothing that will change that, even with his own nephew. He has no mercy. He has proven to be a brave and committed leader. Oedipus does not show this.

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When the sons of Oedipus died, Creon rose to the throne because they were his family. When Polyneices broke his exile to try and take the throne, he died while killing his brother as well. Now a traitor, Creon attempted to make a positive statement to the public stating, “ Polyneices, I say, is to have no burial: no man is to touch him or say the least prayer for him; he shall lie on the plain, unburied; and the birds and the scavenging dogs can do with him whatever they like.” His decision was the correct thing to do for the public, but as his family, he is required by the gods to respect his family thus breaking the higher law.

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As Creon realizes what he was carrying out, and trying to undo the actions he formed, it was to late for him to make a difference as demonstrated "Now all is gone. For when a man has lost what gives him pleasure, i don't include him among the living- he's a breathing corpse" (Sophocles exodos:1253-1255). Sophocles demonstrates to the audience the action the Creon's wife took once she learned about the tragic events, "Stabbed with a sharp sword at the altar, she let her darkening eyesight fail, once she cried out in sorrow for glorious fate of Megareus, who died some time ago, and then again for haemon, and then, with her last breath, she called out evil things against you, the killer of your sons" (Sophocles exodos: 1445-1452). Creon has earned the fate of losing his family to his

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Creon believed that his law stood above and beyond the laws of the gods and that it must be obeyed. He only realized that he was wrong shortly after his son’s tragic death. Nonetheless, he learned that “The laws of the gods are mighty, and a man must serve them to the last day of his life” (Scene 5 ll. 107-108). Even Creon, after all the pain and suffering he’s gone through to ensure that Polyneices’ body isn’t

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Soon after Creon hears the news that his son and wife are dead, he says, “Take me away, I beg you, out of sight. A rash indiscriminate fool! I murdered you, my son, against my will- you too, my wife. ”(Sophocles 1459-62). Even though Creon did not mean for his son and wife to die, he actions are what brought them to kill themselves.

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“They say that Creon has sworn, no one shall bury him, no one mourn him.” (Prologue- Scene 2). Creon is using his power as king to get what he wants even if it is wrong. Creon favored Eteocles over Oedipus, because he buried Eteocles with military honors. Creon was not fair, when he would only bury one brother, although both brothers fought for the throne.

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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

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Once humbled when Oedipus was king, Creon became the king and hubris became his fatal flaw. Throughout Creon’s reign, he constantly ignored others and put himself first. Creon shows an example of Hubris when he doesn’t listen to Antigone’s argument by saying, “Go join them, then; if you must have your love, Find it in hell!” (211). This came after Antigone pleaded that all bodies deserve to be honored and buried.

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As demonstrated throughout the Greek tragedy Antigone, Creon’s tragic flaw is hubris which causes his downfall . The downfall begins when Creon refuses to give Polyneices, the son of Oedipus and the brother of Antigone, a burial. Creon believes that Polyneices did not die an honorable death as he broke exile and raised the sword against his home city, Thebes, so in return he will not receive a burial. Creon’s pride takes over and so he believes he is a man not only superior to women , but a king superior to the gods. He claims, Go out of your heads entirely?

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In the play Antigone, by Sophocles, Creon’s deadly stubbornness and selfishness in ignoring the pleas and

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I alone am guilty. I know it, and I say it” (I.ii.1021-1022). This quote indicates that Creon blames himself and only himself. In addition he now he has to live with the fact that his hubris not only killed his family, it also will always torment him for

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