Is Creon Justified In Antigone Essay

Antigone is a tragedy play written by Sophocles. In the story, Antigone, a young woman, had requested permission from Creon, the king at the time, to have a proper burial for her brother, Polyneices; even though he was a traitor and the law forbids mourning for him. Creon had denied Antigone's request for the burial of her brother, however, Antigone had still carried out the burial. Unfortunately, she had been caught in her act, by the king’s guard, and brought before Creon. She justified her action, insisting that she was not ashamed of what she had done. As a result, Creon had her thrown in a chamber cell. Creon's son, Haemdon, who was betrothed to Antigone, got wind of his father's actions. He pleaded for her life and threatened his father, that he too would die with Antigone. It wasn't until Creon had been warned by a prophet, to release Antigone, that he listened. So Creon had hurried to the cells, however, by the time he had arrived, all he found was Antigone, who had hung herself and Haemon, his son, who had perished by his own hand. Then upon returning to the kingdom he sees that his wife, who had heard of her son’s death, had pierced herself in the heart.

Though, the play is named after Antigone, she is not in the play most of time. She is, however, the plot and the reason why Creon is distressed. Throughout the course of the play, Creon had changed a lot. In the beginning, he was thinking mostly of keeping his crown, which he was doing when he refused to let Antigone bury her brother. Secondly, aside from his throne, he was thinking of law, instead of the humane thing to do. Even though the betrayal of Antigone's brother was unjust, one injustice does not need to be cover by another. Antigone was being just in her action, and her stating that, “she was bound to obey the eternal laws of the rights and wrongs in spite of any human