Antigone’s opponent Creon is a notoriously very arrogant dictator who demands absolute loyalty from his subjects. He displays his conceit from the outset of the performance via both his words and deeds. He claims the inhabitants of Thebes as his own and uses fear to compel them to submit completely. Creon is an illustration of a tragic hero because he errs on the side of inordinate pride. When Creon finds that things are not going as he had anticipated, he experiences peripetia. Eventually, he shares anagnorisis, which causes him to recognize his error of judgment and reverse the course of events that led to tragedy. An example of Creon’s hubris shows how people were happy once, and everything is gone because of their behavior.
Antigone challenges the status quo to reveal unfair legislation. She fights against the societal mores of the day that presupposed women were the lesser gender and unsuited for politics, in addition to Creon’s decision that Polyneices should not be buried. Given that Creon stands in for the government, Antigone fights him. Antigone also defies her sister Ismene, who tries to convince her not to mourn her brother. The gods have cursed Antigone’s family, and destiny wills their demise, so Creon contends with his son Haimon and Teiresias. Ismene first chooses not to assist her sister, but she later takes responsibility. She struggles with deciding whether to follow the law or her conscience. In scene five, Creon is forced to compromise even if he does not want to.
He is so arrogant and obstinate that he would not admit that he could be mistaken. When Haemon pleads with him to change his mind about killing Antigone, he refuses to hear him. “Do you want me to show myself weak before the people? Or to break my sworn word?” the character asks in scene three (Sophocles, lines 26-27). Creon is unwilling to adapt and desires to be seen as a powerful monarch. In scene two, he also states, “An enemy is an enemy, even when dead” (Sophocles, line 117). Creon does not even take into account the fact that Antigone is also Haemon’s fiancée, which will bring Haemon much pain. In scene five, Creon also says, “Whatever you say, you will not change my will” (Sophocles, line 69). He believed Teiresias was being paid by someone to alter his opinion. Creon did not want to contemplate the possibility that he may be mistaken about Antigone. Creon’s arrogance was mostly to blame for his demise.
Creon makes a solemn vow to follow any instructions Tiresias provides him because he owes so much to his previous counsel. Tiresias informs him that the gods would curse Thebes due to his unwillingness to bury Polynices and his retribution on Antigone for the burial. When Creon hears this, he condemns Tiresias and labels him a fake prophet who peddles insufficient information and propaganda. Creon calls all prophets “power-hungry fools,” but Tiresias retorts that the slur is directed at dictators like Creon (Sophocles). The old prophet contends that only in this world can people rule; the ceremonies of the dead are a matter for the gods. Tiresias has his child lead him away since he does not want to hear any more abuse. Creon acknowledges his concern and declares that he will follow the advice of the populace. He hesitantly departs when they demand that he release Antigone. The Chorus then asks Dionysus to guard Thebes after he has left.
Creon recognizes the significance of “healthy” practical judgment above a deranged, twisted mind throughout the whole play. Tiresias tells Creon that while he lacks rational decisions, it is sole because of his diseased and deranged mind. When tragedies happen, the messenger makes a direct allusion to the lesson that the most significant defect plaguing humanity is a lack of judgment (Sophocles, line 1373). Given human limits and the unavoidable will of the gods, people may doubt what a decision even is.
The best answer may be that knowledge and judgment are not indeed used to summon the wrath of the gods but rather to recognize human limits and behave honorably. When, at the play’s conclusion, Creon talks kindly of “death” inflicting blows upon him (Sophocles, lines 1413–1419), he demonstrates that he has finally learned this lesson. The attitude that humans should have toward fate, the gods, and the limitations of human knowledge is one of humility and reverence.
In the drama “Antigone,” Creon is the tragic hero; he experiences all the emotions as a depressing character might. Creon only wanted to obey the law and be a decent leader, but he was too proud to listen to anybody. Creon believed he was superior to everyone else. He attempted to correct it, but his timing was incorrect. Creon only desired order in his country; he was not trying to be vengeful. His inordinate pride prevented him from solving the issues in a productive manner. His family perished as a result of his realizing his error too late. Numerous students examine Antigone as a play that highlights the strength of democracy. All democratic efforts were penalized by Creon as acts of governmental oppression. At the conclusion of the play, he understood that there is no one human state since the people govern themselves. Individuals are not a republic; they are simply a people if there are no others who concur with their judgments.
Work Cited
Sophocles. Antigone. ReadHowYouWant.Com, 2008. Web.