Antigone The Relationship Between Creon And Haemon
Sophocles’ play, Antigone, presents conflicts such as Antigone vs. Creon and Antigone vs. Ismene. However, there is also a prominent conflict between Creon and his son, Haemon. This father-son conflict stems from the view that a son should be submissive to his father. However, Creon and Haemon each view submission differently, and this difference propels them a step closer to their fates. Also, the father-son relationship serves as a metaphorical relationship between the city and the state. Analysis of the relationship between Creon and Haemon serves to provide another reasoning to their fates; and furthermore, sheds light on the underlying issue between democracy and tyranny in the Greek society.
Creon views the father-son relationship as
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As a king, Creon mirrors the role of the father to the city, thus the townsmen mirror the role of the son. Therefore, Creon expects complete submission, like a son, from the townsmen because he believes that “when a city takes a leader, [the people] must obey” (Antigone 666). The phrase “must obey” depicts Creon as a tyrannical leader, through connoting that he suppresses his people while ruling the city however so he pleases. Nonetheless, the townsmen, like Haemon, challenge their expectation of submission by discussing their discontent behind Creon’s back. However, they would not dare to “speak up in broad daylight/in terror of [Creon’s] frown” (Antigone 690-92). By avoiding the “broad daylight” the townsmen are protecting themselves from the harm Creon would impose upon them if he were to figure out that they are scheming against him. However, Haemon “hear[s] what’s said at night,” and believes that as a son it is his responsibility to inform his father about the possible threat Creon’s authority would face. Moreover, Haemon unintentionally poses as the anonymous voice of the people and brings their thoughts to Creon’s attention (Antigone 692). Thus, Haemon embodies democracy by acting as a voice of the people. While Creon embodies tyranny, though his constant selfish rejection and suppression of the people’s
How Does Haemon Be A Foil To Creon
614 Words | 3 PagesDuring their conversation about Antigone’s punishment and how the public are reacting to it, he tells Creon “because of who you are, you can't perceive all the things' men say or do” which consequentially not only reveals how narrowminded Creon is by jumping to conclusions, but it also reminds Creon to listen to what people have to say (782-783). This subsequentially contrasts Haemon's logical thinking and open mind with Creon's intolerant thinking highlighting Creon's trait of narrow mindedness by displaying Creon's inability to listen, perceive and acknowledge what people say. In addition, this shows that Creon could be misinterpreting what others say or do, in this case Haemon thinks he does so with Antigone, telling him “Surely she deserves some golden honour,” suggesting to Creon that death is unfair for her punishment (792). Implying that his punishment is unfair again displays that Creon is narrowminded because the fact that he does not want to listen to what anybody says including his son Haemon, is more than enough proof that Creon is narrowminded. Overall, both pieces of evidence exhibit Haemon being a foil to Creon with Haemon being calm and logical vs Creon's narrowminded
Antigone Creon Loyalty Analysis
683 Words | 3 PagesHaimon’s loyalty is broken between obeying his father and his lover. Creon is obsessed with his loyalty to the state; he is too stubborn and proud to listen to the people of said state. This leads to his misconception that he as king is the entirety of the state. ”I’ll have no dealings with law-breakers, critics of the government: Whoever is chosen to govern should be obeyed-- Must be obeyed, in all things, great or small, Just or Unjust!” (Sophocles, Lines 525-529).
Similarities Between Antigone And Creon
749 Words | 3 PagesCreon has noble stature, which is one of the qualities of a tragic hero. Creon is the king of Thebes, which allows him to have complete dominance of those he rules. As king he has the ability of making laws which be followed and if not than a harsh punishment will come their way. "Anyone who acts against the order will be stoned to death, before the city" (Sophocles, prologue line 42-43). Creon uses his position to create a law that goes against the laws of gods, but his people follow it anyways because they are frightened of his power.
Antigone And Creon
836 Words | 4 PagesAnother characteristic of Creon that is highlighted during the conversation is defensive when it came to the uncertainty of his ruling. In lines (831-833) Haemon says, “the people here in Thebes all say the same- they deny she is”, and Creon responds with,” so the city will instruct me how I am to govern.” Haemon explains all the citizens of Thebes think Antigone performed a heroic act by burying her brother, and they think she shouldn’t be considered guilty. Creon becomes over sensitive and foolishly says the city will tell him how to govern. This shows how defensive Creon is when it comes to the uncertainty of his ruling and him not listening to Haemon develops the belief of creon’s downfall of a tragic
Antigone Research Paper
953 Words | 4 PagesAs the king of Thebes, and the uncle and father-in-law-to-be of Antigone, it would be an understatement to say that he has a conflict of interest. Because of these confusing relationships as a family member, Creon does not truly want to kill his niece, as evident by his hands-off approach to her attempted murder. This presents the argument that Creon’s family obligations muddle his duties as the king. Creon, faced with doing what is best for his family or what is best for himself, contributes to his internal conflict of following the rules that he enacted in contrast with justice. This gives purpose to Antigone by expressing one of Sophocles’s overarching ideas prevalent in his works.
Creon's Flaws In Antigone
195 Words | 1 PagesIn the short story titled “Antigone,” the author portrays Creon as a tragic hero by displaying flaws in Creon's character shown throughout the story. Creon’s character contains many flaws which lead to many problems. His decisions end up deciding the fates of his son, his wife, and Antigone. Creon finally realizes that what he has done is sinful to the gods. He has put his own pride over the appreciation of the gods.
Critical Lens Essay On The Relationship Between Creon And Antigone
1360 Words | 6 PagesEven Creon own son agrees that Creon’s values are solely based on power an pride as Haemon challenges him, suggesting that by serving himself and instituting a totalitarian rule of state he is neglecting to positively serve the people of Thebes, this is evidenced when Haemon declares “ There is no city possessed by one man. ”(Antigone, 794) Creon’s devotion to following state laws is proof that he doesn’t believe in the moral ethics of others and that he demands that others follow his demonstration. Jebb supports this claim as he states, “Creon is responsible for teaching that morality must surrender to a nation’s order. (Antigone to Sophocles, 1599).
Similarities Between Antigone And Creon
381 Words | 2 PagesThe character interactions between Haemon and his father Creon advance the plot and expand the theme by telling and giving Creon recommendation about what he is doing wrong and why he should fix the wrong doings he has done. “ I would not encourage anyone to show respect to evil men. ”(lines 830-831) He is giving an example of character vs. society by going against the king of his people and is siding with
Antigone Quotes About Creon's Downfall
882 Words | 4 PagesIn the play Antigone, by Sophocles, Creon’s deadly stubbornness and selfishness in ignoring the pleas and
Creon's Tragic Analysis
1097 Words | 5 PagesHaimon , Creon’s son warns him that the people of Thebes sympathize with Antigone. Haemon tells his father, I beg you, do not be unchangeable: Do not believe that you alone can be right. The man who thinks that, The man who maintains that only he has the power To reason correctly, the gift to speak, to soul–– A man like that, when you know him, turns out empt.
Relationship Between Creon And Haemon
366 Words | 2 PagesWhen Creon needs to face his son Haemon for the first time (after sentencing Haemon's wife to death) he is very dominant and forceful. He has power over Haemon. He is so focused on justifying his actions he doesn't think about his son's emotions. He quickly becomes insensitive during lines like “Let her find her husband in Hell! Of all the people in this city, only she Has had contempt for my law and broken it.”
Haimon's Pride In Sophocles Antigone
506 Words | 3 PagesIn Sophocles` play, Antigone, he shows a story of a crazed man who lets pride takes over his actions causing the deaths of his loved ones. This essay will discuss Haimon, King Creon`s son, through statements that Sophocles himself wrote and inferences of his perspective. During the story Haimon does major actions such as; plea for his fiancée, commits suicide and even cast death upon King Creon. I believe that Haimon plead for Antigone`s life for more than one reason. He pleads for her because she was his fiancée and also because he heard the rumors the citizens passed around about King Creon.
Haemon Vs Creon Essay
644 Words | 3 Pages“A city which belongs to just one man is no true city.” (lines 838-39) Throughout the play, Antigone, written by Sophocles, the character Haemon constantly tries to persuade his father, Creon, to listen to the people of his city and to become a more humble leader. Haemon’s words, actions, and ideas contrast with Creon’s character. Which results in the two characters having continual conflicting motivations.
Examples Of Arete In Antigone
410 Words | 2 PagesAnother Greek concept that relates to Creon?s character in Antigone is hubris. When one is given power, through arete in the example of Creon, they tend to lose contact with reality. Hubris is almost always defined by a pride that leads to the character?s downfall. Creon shows hubris when he refuses to take advice from his son because Haemon is younger and the city was Creon?s alone to run, ? Am I to rule this land at someone else?s whim or by myself.?
Haemon And Creon Tragic Hero Quotes
242 Words | 1 PagesThe Tragic Hero “Your gaze makes citizens afraid-they can’t say anything you would not like to hear”(783-784). King Creon has so much power that the citizens of Thebes fear him. In the play Antigone, Sophocles uses Haemon’s ideas to contrast with Creon’s idea to punish Antigone which makes him into a tragic hero and advances the plot to show him what the people of Thebes believe about Antigone’s act.
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