The Crucial Role of Teiresias in Sophocles’ Antigone Essay example

Antigone 's tragic flaw does not lead to her downfall, because of this Antigone does not meet the characteristic of reversal in fate otherwise known as a downfall. Creon’s pride is what causes Antigone 's death. For example when Teiresias tells Creon to let Antigone go and to give Polyneices a proper burial because the gods are upset he does not listen. Instead he says to Teiresias, "doddering fortune tellers...if your birds-if the great eagles of God himself- should carry him bit by bit to heaven, I would not yield"( 44- 47). Creon is insulting Teiresias, a respected prophet, and says that he wouldn 't do as Teiresias says even if the birds carried Polyneices body bit by bit to heaven. It is obvious that Creon is prideful because he has a high opinion of his superiority. This is shown when he refers to Teiresias, a highly respected prophet who has never been wrong, as

When Creon passes his law, it is used to protect Thebes from being betrayed again. But Creon betrays the gods’ law and does not bury Polyneices, his nephew. As a result Tiresias, a blind prophet approaches Creon and says that if Polyneices, that “before you have surrendered / one of your born flesh and blood, / a corpse for a corpse given in return”(1183-1185). Shortly afterward, Creon realizes that his authority has overstepped into his family and now will go honor his family, by going against his own law. But little did Creon know things were not going to be that simple. When Creon and Haemon arrive at Antigone’s tomb, they are greeted with a hanged Antigone. As a result Haemon lunges at his father and kills himself after he misses. Creon’s authority led to his son ending his own life because he saw the woman of his dreams, hang lifelessly due to his father's action. Creon realizes that Tiresias was correct about the prophecy, but it was too late. Shortly afterwards, Creon finds out his wife, Eurydice, had also killed herself because of her son’s recent suicide. This would lead Creon alone without any family members except his own law to comfort him. He then realizes that “the guilt is all [his]” and he must repent (1442). Creon’s authority led to him being alone without any other family members to comfort him,and also lifetime of guilt

Tragic heroes have identifiable flaws which cause their destruction. In this situation Creon’s major flaw was that he was self-centered, and never listened he thought he was always right. Haemon points out that Creon needs to stop being narrow-minded and stubborn, "...Not far off when you shall pay back corpse for corpse..." (Scene 5, 72-73). Teiresias the fortune teller warns Creon that his inflexible ways

and the law is only here to benefit him and to control the people. It

After Teiresias left, Creon has a sudden change of heart and realizes that it would be in his best interest to let Antigone live. Upon arriving at the vault where Antigone is held Creon finds that she has hanged himself. Haimon is mourning at her feet, he then lunged at Creon and missed. Desperate he drove the sword into himself. Back at the castle Eurydice has heard the news and also commits suicide. It isn’t long

Sophocles’ play “Antigone” illustrates the conflict between obeying human and divine law. The play opens after Oedipus’ two sons Eteocles and Polyneices have killed each other in a civil war for the throne of Thebes. Oedipus’ brother in law Creon then assumes the throne. He dictates that Eteocles shall receive a state funeral and honors, while Polyneices shall be left in the streets to rot away. Creon believes that Polyneices’ body shall be condemned to this because of his civil disobedience and treachery against the city. Polyneices’ sister, Antigone, upon hearing this exclaims that an improper burial for Polyneices would be an insult to the Gods. She vows that Polyneices’ body will be buried, and Creon declares that anyone who

During the play Creon has a few more conversation one being with his son, Haemon, and during their “talk” his son says “Then she won’t be the only one to die. (Sophocles 19”) which he stating that if Antigone is going to die he is going to die with her. Creon just feels anger towards his son but, is unexpecting of what is to come of Antigone’s death. Afterwards he had a discussion over the topic with Teiresias which led to convince Creon that he was wrong with his decisions and needed to let Antigone free with his own hands.

Teiresias: “You’ve thrown down to those below someone from up above- in your arrogance you’ve moved a living soul into a grave, leaving here a body owned by god's below- unburied, dispossessed, unsanctified.” (Lines 1196-1200). Teiresias has given Creon insight on how he drove his fate to its edge. In Antigone by Sophocles, Creon is portrayed as a tragic figure who functions as a tool for suffering because he had brought a series of unfortunate events to those who were close to him by not allowing his emotions to surpass his overwhelming power and taking drastic actions towards Antigone and Haemon leading to unwanted deaths.

“But, old Teiresias, among human beings the wisest suffer a disgraceful fall when, to promote themselves, they use fine words to spread around abusive insults.” (Lines 1167-70) Slowly but surely, the interaction between Teiresias and Creon develops Creon into tragic hero as Creon continues to dispute with Teiresias over his belief that nothing should stand against his own law (even if his own son, Haemon, thinks that his iniquitous decisions angers not only the gods but the city of Thebes which he rules upon on). Teiresias comments, “Alas, does any man know or think about...how good advice is valuable---worth more than all possessions.” (Lines 1171-1175) explaining that his words cannot be bought with

This Sophocles tragedy seemed to touch many readers. This tragedy has made many people in present and antiquity rethink their purpose in life. This story also intended to raise many questions. One question that I will discus is what means more to you, social acceptance or staying true to your beliefs? This classic tragedy that I am referring to is called Antigone. This fascinating story touches many subject of social and religious matter. I will discuss the tragic turmoil of Antigone, her surrounding family, and the social and religious dilemma that Antigone faces that will ultimately decide her fate.

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

After everyone else has failed to convince Creon that he is wrong about sending Antigone away, and old, fervid Prophet comes to visit him. Teiresias is a blind old prophet who tells Creon that the gods are angry at Thebes and will curse it if Creon does not change his arrogant ways. “All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong… The only crime is pride” (232) At first Creon is stubborn still, and insults the skill of prophets, but Teiresias goes on despite the king’s words. Teiresias eaves with a final warning saying if he does not heed the God’s word, he will be punished. After consulting his chorus and hearing Teiresias’ speech Creon finally recognizes that he was wrong. His moment of recognition is “Oh it is hard to give in! but it is worse to risk everything for stubborn pride.” (235)

On the other hand, he is power madness, self-righteousness, and ruthlessness. Because of these bad characteristics lead him to his downfall. He does not aware of how bad his flaw is taken over him, even Tiresias, a blind prophet, warns him about his fate. He does not want to listen and accused Tiresias that he is telling a lie. Although he realized it at the end, by then it is too late. It is all his fault that Antigone, Haemon, and his wife, Eurydice die. His authority also makes the citizens of Thebes scare of him. Because they fear that what Creon did the Polynices will happen to them. All of this tragedy happen because of his tragic

Teiresias, a prophet, comes to Creon with news that somebody will die. Creon has the choice of listening to the prophet’s information and act upon it. In the text Teiresias says, “All men make mistakes—that’s not uncommon. But when they do, they’re no longer foolish or subject to bad luck if they try to fix the evil into which they’ve fallen…” (1139-1142) Creon then responds by saying, “Old man, you’re all like archers shooting at me— For you all I’ve now become your target— even prophets have been aiming at me.” (1152-1154) Creon chooses not to listen to Teiresias because of his stubbornness and because of it, he experiences the misfortune of his son killing himself because of

Haemon, son of Creon, is to be married to Antigone which justifies her right to live. When asked if he would kill his son’s own bride Creon replies, “Absolutely: there are other fields for him to plow… A worthless woman for my son? It repels me.” (Sophocles, 89) The king of Thebes is quick to judge Antigone for her actions, but he does not go beyond that to realize that what she did for her brother, Creon would do for his son. In reality, Creon goes on to do the complete opposite, ignoring the value of love and distancing himself from the people that matter to him the most. His own son confronts him, saying “What a splendid king you’d make of a desert island – you and you alone.” (Sophocles, 99) That is how Creon is left... alone. Struck with grief and astonishment from the loss of his true love, Haemon takes his life. In the same faith, so does his mother, Eurydice, Creon’s wife. The amount of bloodshed in Thebes lay on the hands of Creon. He drove everyone away, his nieces, nephews, son, and wife. He was left alone because he did not know how to properly manage a sate and family as one. His stubbornness and commanding nature blinds him from recognizing that his faults and misjudgments lead him to be alone, causing his