Creon's Role of King and His Responsibilities

John Lennon said, “Part of me suspects that I’m a loser, and the other part of me thinks I’m God Almighty.” Hubris, or excessive pride, was one of the biggest themes in Ancient Greek culture. It has what killed heroes, and destroyed villains in mythology and even real life. In the play Antigone, written by Sophocles, I share the battle that Creon has regarding a conflict of personal character, which leads to the deaths of others caused by his tremendously large ego.

A successful monarchy relies upon a stable leader who is concerned with the satisfaction of those he rules over. Henry Bolingbroke the IV in Shakespeare's Henry the IV Part I follows a trend set by his predecessor in Richard II of self-indulgence and neglect of his kingdom. These leaders worry about the possibility of losing their kingdom or their soldiers to other nobles who were also concerned more with obtaining a higher position rather than governing. The king must also be wary of his own life, something that was once revered and guarded closely by other nobles. Wars once fought for gaining or protecting land are overshadowed by personal battles fighting for the position of king.

In the play Antigone, Creon starts off as the loyal king of Thebes. He is loyal to the gods and loyal to the welfare of Thebes. However, over the course of the play, Creon degenerates into a tyrant. His degeneration is showing his character development. Creon’s pride about the human law also develops throughout the play, creating conflict with the divine law. When Antigone rebels against his law, he becomes stubborn, and makes myopic decisions and grows into his hamartia. Besides his hamartia, Creon’s position as the king makes him a power hungry man. His power madness degenerates him into becoming a ruthless and vindictive man, even to his family. However, over the course of the play, Creon begins to see that because of the laws of men, he was being blinded of what’s

From the beginning of his life as a warrior to the end as a king, he gains and develops glory, responsibility and courage, all vital to his reign as a successful king.

CrHow is Creon’s character introduced through his opening speech in the First Episode (lines 159-195) and how does this speech create tension?

How can power overpower the nature of a man? In William Shakespeare’s Henry V, Henry’s life is centered around his kingship which turns him into a selfish and stern king. Throughout his life, Henry has worked hard to prepare himself for becoming the king of England. Moreover, Henry’s childhood consisted of constant preparation for his future career as king. However, when he becomes king he disregards his foolish childhood, and focuses on his own wealth and prosperity. Unfortunately, his selfishness compels him to do wicked things that harm his country. A king’s job is to protect and provide for his kingdom; Henry, however, makes many decisions that harm his kingdom, which makes him a bad king. Moreover, Henry’s childhood preparation for his kingship has led to much harm to the citizens of England. Henry’s position as king transforms him from a foolish young man into a hard, stern king. As king Henry displays attributes of wickedness, selfishness, and ruthlessness.

Creon, unlike Antigone, shows all of the characteristics of a Greek tragic hero. He is an ordinary person, with way to much power. This is one situation as to why the sole ruler form of government was soon diminished. Creon’s actions derived from his human flaws or his fear of loosing his place as king. Creon also ends up facing suffering because due to his prideful attitude, it caused the death of three loved ones, his son, niece, and wife. Even though a tragic hero is nothing like a hero we would hear being describe today, they both teach important lessons. A hero teaches the reader right decisions and the correct course, while a tragic hero

King Creon’s tragic flaw is hubris. He does not listen to advice given to him by the blind prophet Teiresias. When Teiresias tells Creon, “Give in to the dead man, then: do not fight with a corpse- what glory is it to kill a man who is dead? Think, I beg you: It is for your own good that I speak as I do. You should be able to yield for your own good” (Antigone 36-40). King Creon does not like the fact that the prophet believes he is wrong and should do what everyone else has so far advised him to do. He accuses Teiresias as giving him such a prophecy because of bribery from others and a hunger for gold. Hubris is also revealed from King Creon in Scene III. Creon’s son, Haemon, tells Creon that the people of Thebes believe they have never seen a girl die such a shameful death and that the people live in fear of Creon. Haemon tells Creon he also believes Antigone should have been allowed to bury Polyneices and should be set free. King Creon responds with, “You consider it right for a man of my years and experience to go to school to a boy?” (Antigone 95-96). This shows that Creon does not believe a man of such age, “wisdom”, and “experience” should listen to anyone or change because of anyone else’s

Why Is Creon Not Being A Nice King And Has To Be A Pain In The Head King Who Wants To Let The Hungry Animals Eat The One That Antigone Loved The Most Her Brother.

“Then why delay? There’s nothing in your words that I enjoy—may that always be the case! And what I say displeases you as much. But where could I gain greater glory than setting my own brother in his grave? All those here would confirm this pleases them if their lips weren’t sealed by fear—being king, which offers all sorts of various benefits, means you can talk and act just as you wish.” (567-575) The way Antigone acts, what she says and what she thinks contrasts with Creon to the point where they had a major conflict. These conflicting motivations cause Creon to show a different side of himself, the new characteristics that were highlighted in Creon were anger, violence, and self-importance.

There was a time in the middle of football season where my coach and I were arguing of what my coverage zone was in a passing play, I was so sure that I was correct that I argued with him about it in front of the whole team. He ended up telling me to do it his way for a play, I ended up getting an interception as soon as I listened to him. Almost the exact same situation happened to Creon in a lengthy play called Antigone by Sophocles. It’s a play about how the king Creon refused to give Antigone's close brother a proper burial, just for breaking the law. Now Antigone has gone on a quest to bury her brother.n the end Creon needed to learn that sometimes you have to take the advice of others and see their side of the story instead of thinking

Creon left Antigone in the tomb when he told the guards to ‘’take her to that vault and leave her alone’’ to let her choose death herself. In order to,not let Creon or his soldiers have the blame for her death. Therefore Creon wanted to resemble Antigone’s death as the punishment for anyone who was against Creon’s law. While, if he choose to stone her to death it wouldn’t end in silence. Along with, both Creon and his soldiers have the responsibility of her death. However, creon left her saying ‘’if she lives or dies,that is her choice, not ours’’.

“Am I to rule this land at someone else’s whim or by myself . According to our laws, does not the ruler own the city?” ( Lines 838-840). Creon becomes enraged with anger when finds out Haemon is siding with Antigone and others under his rule. He becomes very causing him to spew words and statements that cause many to become angry at him. Creon’s change in emotion shows how he really feels when he authority is challenged by someone he believes to be beneath him during his rule.

First, based on Aristotle’s definition, Creon is the tragic hero of Antigone because although he starts from a position of greatness, his tragic flaw leads to Catastrophe. Creon says “And I, as next of kin to those dead and doomed,/ I’m next in line./ The throne has come to me” (Heaney 15). This is the point where Creon says that he is king once again. “That’s how guilt/ Affects some people./ They Simply break/ and everything comes out./ But the barefaced ones./ The ones who defy you more when they’re found out,/ They’re worse again” (Heaney 31). He means that guilt results in truth and that people who defy him talk more when they are caught. Creon knows that Antigone is the one who went

the traits of a “good king”. He was a warrior with extraordinary abilities which made him seem