##reson And Creon In The Tragedy Of Antigone

The first specification for the tragic hero is one of the few that both Antigone and Creon exhibit; both characters are between the extremes of perfect morality and pure villainy. Antigone’s moral neutrality is illustrated through her noble intentions and the unorthodox way she acts upon them. When she is confronted by Creon and demanded to give an explanation for her disobedience, Antigone says, “For me it was not Zeus who made that order. Nor did that Justice who lives with the gods below mark out such laws to hold among mankind” (Sophocles 207 ll. 450-2). Along with love and loyalty to her brother, Antigone is largely motivated by her desire for justice and appeasement of the gods. While her intentions are noble, Antigone’s actions in the

Antigone lost both of her brothers, but only one, Eteocles, was allowed by Creon to receive a proper burial. No matter what shame someone may have caused, they are deserving of a respectful and proper burial. This is especially important, for the afterlife and respect for the dead are of great importance and significance Ancient Greek culture. Antigone should have been able to bury both brothers with equal consideration and honor. Creon degrees that the burial of Polynices is prohibited. Regarding Creon’s decree, Antigone says that there is “a city-wide proclamation, rumor has it, forbids anyone to bury him, even mourn him,” (Sophocles, lines 33-34). Creon declares that Polynices

Even though Antigone exhibits a blamable pride and a hunger for glory, her disobedience is less serious than those of Creon. It is evident that Antigone’s actions are driven by a love for her brother, and a desire to please the gods. While Creon’s actions are

In the prologue of the play, Antigone, by Sophocles, Antigone and Ismene (sisters) are debating between burying their late brother, Polyneices, and the consequences they may end up facing. In Antigone’s eyes, family comes before the law of burying a traitor. When disputing between the burial, Antigone says, “...but Polyneices, who fought bravely and died as miserably, - they say that Creon has sworn no one shall bury him…” (Prologue.17-20) Antigone just wants to put her brother to peace, but Creon refuses to allow anyone who tries to ruin the well-being of his new society to be buried. She believes that Polyneices fought just as bravely as their brother, Eteocles, and his spirit deserves to be put to rest instead of lying in the public square.

Throughout the second half of the play, king Creon and Antigone argue about whether to give her brother, Polyneices, a proper burial. According to king Creon, Polyneices was a traitor who attempted to burn their city to flames. King Creon even states “He died trying to sack this land, the other in defense (Antigone 518).” Creon thought Polyneices was not worthy and did not deserve to receive a proper burial because he had destroyed his reputation by betraying his own homeland. Additionally, when people are buried, their souls drift on and pass into the afterlife.

“This is law and order in the land of king Creon.” (Antigone 7) Everyone in Thebes especially women are intimidated by Creon because of his hubris making him the tragic hero of antigone, The Burial at Thebes: A version of Sophocles’ Antigone translated by Seamus Heaney. After two brother from opposing sides battle and die, Creon becomes king of Thebes ruling that only Eteocles gets a proper burial and Polyneices the “treacherous” one is denied any burial at all. Antigone defines his order believing it is her duty to give her brother a proper burial, so that the gods can accept him, making Creon’s hubris commend her to death. Based on Aristotle’s definition, Creon is the tragic hero of Antigone because he starts from position of greatness, his tragic flaws leads to a catastrophe; he realizes the error of his ways, but it is too late to prevent the catastrophe; and his downfall and suffering leave him both humbled and enlightened.

Antigone and Creon adhere to different value systems, Antigone’s religiously rooted values versus Creon’s politically centered life. Creon displayed the very legalist perspective of classical leaders, the belief that following through with civil law and enforcing strict punishments would maintain a prosperous society. Polynices, the unburied brother of Antigone, fought against Thebes which made him undeserving of a grave. Creon, being closed minded towards anarchists, lashed out before he could foresee the end result. ”Anarchy!- show me a greater crime in all the earth!” (751-52). After watching the fall of Oedipus’ power, Creon endorses and insists upon strict laws to prevent anyone like Antigone to speak out against him. Antigone’s actions

Antigone and Creon are two characters with similar personalities, which caused major uproar between the two. Both are confident and persistent in their beliefs, doing what they believe was best. Antigone was guilty in the eyes of the law because she buried her brother against Creon’s ruling. Though the law seemed inhumane, Creon set the action into effect because he wanted to maintain his image in the city’s eyes. Antigone fought for her brother’s burial because she believed that her brother deserved to end up in heaven, no matter how he died. Antigone’s actions had moral reasoning that supported her decisions, whereas Creon’s reasoning’s were harsh. Antigone shouldn’t have died over her strong beliefs.

Creon, the antagonist of Sophocles's play Antigone is a great example of a man who learns humility after causing mass destruction all around him. In the play, Creon is the King of Thebes and he is solely interested in political and social order. The previous King and Creon’s brother, Oedipus died and his sons Eteocles and Polynices were suppose to rotate the throne. However, the brothers ended up killing each other in a duel which led to Creo taking power. Creon angered his niece Antigone when he allowed her brother Eteocles to be given proper funeral honors, but not her brother Polynices. To make things more complicated, Haemon, Creon’s son is in love and intends on marrying Antigone. Going against Creon’s law, Antigone gives her brother Polyneices a proper burial and is caught. Creon condemns her to death despite the outcries of the chorus and his son. He begins to have remorse and says that she may be freed, but

Creon’s first lapse in judgement was his inability to understand the strong sibling bond between Antigone and Polynices. If Creon extended more compassion towards their familial bonds, then perhaps the tragedy would not have taken place. “Polynices, who returned from exile … a proclamation has forbidden the city to dignify him with a burial, mourn him at all. No, he must be left unburied, his corpse carrion for the birds and dogs to tear and obscenity for the citizens to behold. ”(222-231)

Creon is characterized as an authoritarian tyrannical ruler. He created the law stating that nobody was to bury the body of Polynices because he betrayed the city of Thebes. Creon was right to make his law because Polynices was a turncoat and died on Theban soil. Although his law was harsh, he believed that he was in the right because a villain such as Polynices did not deserve a proper burial. Creon was especially enraged when Antigone disregarded his law because Polynices was her brother, “Oh but I hate it more / when a traitor, caught red-handed, / tries to glorify his crimes (Creon 552-554).”

In the text, Antigone wants to bury her brother, Polynices, after hearing about what occurred with their brother, Eteocles. Polynices and Eteocles had an argument over who should be the king and they ended up slaughtering each other to death in a battle for the throne. Polynices is looked at as a traitor. Antigone did not care and still wanted to bury him. The obstacle in the way her uncle Creon. Creon was the king and he proclaimed that the body of Polynices shall not be buried. Both Antigone and Creon followed separate rules and laws. That causes the difference in viewpoints between the two. With Antigone, she believes that it would be right to bury him, so she did. Once Creon found out, he was very angry. With the body of Polynices being banned due to the proclamation

In the play, Creon and Antigone can be seen as good or bad characters. Both of them show traits of justice. Antigone wanted to save her brother, Polyneices, by giving him a soldier’s funeral with military honors. Creon realized his mistake of putting Antigone in a cave to die for burying Polyneices, and he tried to fix it. Unfortunately, he

The main difference between Antigone and Creon is their different stances on law. Antigone values moral and religious laws while Creon, values the laws of the state. In Scene II, Antigone is asked why she broke the law to bury her brother. She says, “It was not God’s proclamation. That final justice that rules the world below makes no such laws… [the laws of God] are not merely now, they were and shall be operative forever beyond man utterly.” Antigone’s disregard

Even though Antigone has familial love toward her brother, she expresses sympathy toward him. Antigone does this by telling her sister that Creon “Promotes one of them and shames the other” by denying his burial rights (22). In this part of her speech, Antigone chooses her words carefully to describe the situation to her sister and express the sympathy she has for Polyneices, especially when she uses the phrase “shames the other” and “miserable corpse” (22-26). Antigone is sympathetic of her brother Polyneices because he is not given a proper burial and is left to the “vultures, unwept, unburied” like he is forgotten (29). It is also intriguing to see how Antigone’s sympathetic response to the lack of her brother’s burial is actually the familial love she has for him. Because she loves and considers him a part of her family, she is emotionally sorrowful for the way he has been treated.