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Kreon Is The Foremost Source Of Conflict In Antigone

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In Sophocles' Antigone, the foremost source of conflict between Antigone and Kreon is the burial of Antigone's dead brothers who liquidate each other in battle after one disagreed to hand over the throne. After hearing the tragic news, Antigone conveys to her sister Ismene: Kreon buried our brother Eteocles with military honors, gave him a soldier's funeral, and it was right that he should; but Polyneices, who fought as bravely and died as miserably, — they say that Kreon has sworn no one shall bury him, no one mourn for him. (1. 15-20) Antigone decides that she will bury Polyneicies herself even though it is illegal. She is loyal to her family, does not want to disgrace the laws of the gods, and also believes that it is her hereditary duty to bury her brother Polynecies regardless of whatever crime he has committed. During the operation though, sentries watching over Polynecies' body catch sight of Antigone burying him so they seize and …show more content…

He even goes as far as to declare, "If your birds — if the great eagles of God himself should carry [Polynecies' body] stinking bit by bit to heaven, I would not yield. I am not afraid of pollution: No man can defile the gods" (5. 45-49). This is another example of conflict between laws of gods clashing with laws of man. Teiresias leaves in indignation which leaves Kreon and the Choragos to ponder what they just heard. Choragos encourages and advises Kreon quickly liberate Antigone in which he does, but it is too late. Antigone has hung herself out of her clothing. She would be considered as a martyr to the people, standing up for what she believes in which is flexibility in state rule to allow for more respect toward family values. Since Kreon is driven by his responsibility to serve the state and his own egocentrism, it leads to Antigone's death and will lead to his "terrible" punishment. The retribution begins with Haimon, his son, ending his own

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