Antigone Creon Character Analysis

     Creon and Antigone also demonstrated a similarity in their loyalty to their own views. They both had different views, but they both remained loyal to them throughout the entire play. Creon and Antigone did not give in to others’ views, but relied on their own for survival. Creon was extremely loyal to his laws that he had made, and Antigone was loyal to her beliefs. Nothing was going to change either of them. When Antigone was brought in by the sentry, Creon was disturbed to find out Antigone was the person burying Polynices. He was extremely upset

With Antigone's betrayal of King Creon by burying her brother Polyneices, it is only seen fit that she is to be punished. At Antigone's trial, “she denied nothing” because the gods had not made the law and she believed it was her right to bury her brother's policies despite Creon's warnings (Scene 2). The unfair disposal and non-burial of Polyneices is seen as an “evil” by Antigone, so much so that when Creon threatens her with death Antigone welcomes death and states “I should have suffered. Now I do not” (Scene 2). On the contrary, Creon believed that Antigone's “pride” had blinded her and since she chose to “defy the law” it would seem fair that she “win a bitter death” (Scene 2).

Pride, one of the seven deadly sins. It is arguably the most dangerous of the seven sins, making people act irrationally when they are insulted and almost unable to see reason. This is demonstrated very well in Antigone by Creon and Antigone. Civil law dictated that Polyneices, Antigone’s brother, was not to be buried, while religious law dictated that anyone not buried could not be put to rest. Creon believed his law, the civil law, should be listened to over religious law. Antigone believed that religious laws should be listened to above civil laws. Despite having opposing views on whether to follow civil or religious law, Creon and Antigone’s own pride and refusal to back down led to their downfall.

(1.85-87). She goes and gives Polyneices a somewhat proper burial, but she gets caught. When Creon finds out it was Antigone that had buried Polyneices. “And yet you dared defy the law.” (2.56).

Sophocles is an ancient playwright who wrote mainly about tragedies. One of his most famous works is Antigone. Antigone includes the main character antigone who wants to bury her brother after Creon her ruler says that he may not receive a proper burial. Antigone's brother Eteocles was fighting against his brother Polyneices in a battle and they were both killed. Eteocles was fighting with Thebes against his brother.

Creon’s first error is thinking he can go against god's laws or by having hubris. We learn this when Creon says, “The laws of the gods are mighty and a man must serve them” (scene 5, line 109-110). Creon is saying he should have never gone against god because he is just a man. Creon should have listened to everyone when they told him god's law is above his or he’ll be punished for it. Creon is feeling remorse when he finds out it is too late to fix his errors. He’s feeling regret when he says, “The father murdering, the murdered son - and all my civic wisdom” (scene 5, line 89-90). He is pointing out that his son warned him what would happen if Creon did not listen; unfortunately he still did not listen. His son was where all his strength and wisdom was at and now Haimon is dead. If only Creon had done things differently or changed his mind

King Creon of Thebes in the play Antigone has inherited the throne after his nephew/brother-in-law Oedipus was killed and his two sons fought each other for the crown but killed each other in the end. Creon, when officially crowned, declared that Eteocles was a hero and deserved a proper soldiers burial, but Polyneices was a criminal and his body is to remain on the field he died in and no one was to bury him. Antigone, the main character of the story and Creon's niece, decided that the edict was against the God’s ways and to bury Polyneices herself. Creon slowly became unhinged after he found out someone

Creon’s Foil “Zeus hates an arrogant boasting tongue”(lines 152-153). Antigone's words, action, and ideas contrast with Creon’s to the point of these two characters having conflicting motivations. These conflicting motivations caused the characteristics of stubbornness, disrespect, and anger to be highlighted within Creon’s character. Overall, these conflicting motivations develop Creon as a tragic hero by emphasizing the characteristics that all tragic heroes must have. His interactions with Antigone develops the theme by showing their distinct views.

Creon, Antigone's uncle, acquired the throne after the brothers Polyneices and Eteocles killed one another in a battle against each other. In the disastrous play Antigone written by Sophicles, Creon now king leads Thebes through recovery from the vicious war. As part of his first order of king Creon ruled that Polyneices was not be buried but to decay on the agony of death and that Eteocles be buried in honor. To respect Polyneices death Antigone sneaks into the house where Polyneices body is and covers it in dirt which goes against what Creon had ordered. Creon later finds about this and then the whole matter uncoils within itself. Antigone is put in in jail and a proper burial is put in place for Polyneices.

Soon after his decision of the fate of Antigone, Creon’s tragic flaw blooms the greatest. This Hubris focuses on the Creon’s relentless, uncompromising, and egotistical attitude. Many try to convince Creon to reconsider on his misguided decision, however, Creon does not yield. It is at this point when one realizes the Hubris of Antigone. Creon possesses a false sense of pride and/or confidence in his intelligence. He believes he cannot be wrong, therefore his uncompromising and egotistical attitude shines brightest. It portrays him as “superficial, pigheaded, self-important man.” (Porter) This is Hamartia, his relentless,

Sophocles symbolizes family over authority by using Antigone and Creon to conflict each other's core beliefs, showing that Antigone is willing to die to honor the love for her family, while Creon is willing to kill to honor and enforce his own authority at any cost. As we see in the story, when Antigone's brothers die, she chooses to bury Polyneices even though she knows this will cost her her life. In the play when Antigone tells her sister what she’s going to do, ismene says, ”But think of the danger! Think what Creon will do! ANTIGONE: Creon is not enough to stand in my way” This shows Antigone represents family for the great lengths she will go to to honor her brother. By contrast, Sophocles paints Creon to symbolize authority through murder of his own bloodline. In the play he plans to kill Antigone for choosing her love for her brother over his rule, and so he plans out her execution although she is family to Creon. The Choragos asks Creon “Do you really intend to steal this girl from your son?,” which then he responds by saying “No; Death will do that for me.” Which shows the reader that Creon is unsympathetic to who Antigone is in relation to him. He disregards the importance of family to uphold his authoritative values. By the end of the play the author has shown us Creon has come to realize his ways have cost him his family, and he regrets his decisions.

Throughout the Greek play Antigone by Sophocles, there exists a dispute as to who should receive the designation of main character. Antigone, the daughter of the cursed King Oedipus, as well as Creon, stately king of Thebes, both appear as the key figures in this historic play. I believe that Creon, king of Thebes, should be considered the main character in this work of Greek theater. Three points can be used to make this argument: Creon suffers greatly, he learns a lesson, and is a tragic hero.

Sophocles’ Antigone is, without a doubt, one of the greatest tragedies ever written. There are many questions that somebody could ask about this work, but this one intrigues me the most: Who is the tragic hero? Could it be Antigone? Or could it be Creon? Antigone might be the name of the tragedy, but I believe that Creon is the winning candidate. His role in the plot of this tragedy, his sensible tragic fault, and his dynamic character are the obvious reasons why I chose him as the tragic hero.

Before advancing to the throne, Oedipus had unknowingly killed Laius, his father and the king of Thebes. Shortly after killing the king, he married the dead king’s wife, his mother. He had committed incest by marrying and having children with his own mother. As a result he became father of Polyneices, Eteocles, Antigone, and Ismene. Oedipus stabs his eyes out and his sons, Polyneices and Eteocles killed themselves in combat, over the power of the throne. Creon was in the process of reconstructing Thebes from the ruins that his own family created. He also had to make a name for himself, after all the chaos the past rulers had made. If Creon did not set an example for civilians they would simply rebel. Creon was to stand firm by his word because no one is above the law, no matter who committed the act. In other words Creon was not a villain; he was the antagonist of Antigone. Imagine how biased Creon would appear to the Theban population if he did not pursue the punishment that he himself had instituted. In agreement to his law, Creon’s intentions were just. There’s no doubt about it, Creon’s law was harsh but when truly analyzing the situation, Polyneices was a traitor because he allied with other cities and attacked his homeland. Creon’s strong and steadfast attitudes were to support Thebes. But unfortunately, he was a little too late to understand that his fierce dedication to his decree was an error on his part.

Antigone retaliates by saying that his law is not that of the Gods so it does not stand. He wants to have Antigone killed, but his son his her fiancé. He tries to explain to the king that the gods would have wanted Polyneices to be buried and that Antigone did the right thing that she should not be punished for it. Creon’s hubris however comes out yet again. He will not even listen to a word his son has to say; however now he does not want to kill her, but to send her away into a tomb, where the Gods can determine her fate.