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Consequences In Sophocles 'Theban Play Antigone'

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Emotional Consequences
The primary leader of India’s Independence, Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding.” Supporting Gandhi, if someone lets their anger and intolerance control how they perceive things, they won’t understand the correct point of view. In the Theban play Antigone, written by the Greek philosopher, Sophocles, the King of Thebes, Creon, refuses to properly bury the dead body of his nephew, thus he cannot pass on to his after life. Creon’s niece, Antigone, challenges Creon to bury her brother, but when he doesn’t, she buries him herself and gets punished. Creon continues to make irrational decisions, leading to his son and wife’s death. As a result of Creon’s intense emotions …show more content…

As the King of Thebes, Creon must act tough when talking upon his people to get the full effect of power. When Haemon tried to persuade his father to allow the burial of Polyneices, he spoke in a tone that the people of Thebes would use with their King. He respectfully asks his father to consider the ideas of a proper burial and Creon responds, “ How, if I tolerate/ A traitor at home, shall I rule those abroad?” (144). He is contemplating that if he “tolerates” Antigone’s rebellious behavior by allowing her to bury her brother, the people of Thebes will lose respect and consider him as a weak leader. Understandably, Creon uses the tone of anger throughout the conversation because it provides him with a look of authority. If he acts angry, the people he is talking to will become scared and listen to his demands without question. Therefore, because of Creon’s anger, he does things that hurt the people around him, as well as hurting himself. Creon decides that he wants Antigone to die, and wants Haemon to be there when she does, “Bring out that she-devil, and let her die/ Now, with her bridegroom by to see it done!” (147). He calls Antigone a “she-devil”, that strong word choice displays how much anger Creon has towards Antigone, he is so angry that he goes as far as calling her the devil. Creon wants the “bridegroom”, or his son to watch Antigone die. He wants Haemon to witness

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