As king of Thebes, it is an absolute duty to uphold command and peace within his territory. Part of this responsibility is to execute orders and to punish any wrongdoers who chose to defy the orders. In the play, “The Burial at Thebes”, it follows princess Antigone who recently lost both her brothers. While one brother was given a proper burial, Polynices, the second brother, was forbidden to be buried by King Creon. Despite the king’s order were that if anyone were to bury Polynices, they would receive a death sentence, Antigone disregarded the warning and buried him. Although Antigone’s sentence to death were to bring more misfortune in the end with the death of Haemon, Creon’s punishment was to be proven as a necessary policy that was enforced. Creon’s decision to nevertheless sentence Antigone despite the general public’s opinion and advice from his son and Tiresias has made Creon a stern and absolute ruler. …show more content…
One crucial detail to the effectiveness of ruling a kingdom is to cast away his personal gain and instead do what is best for the citizens under his reign. While listing factors of what makes an inadequate ruler, Creon would note that, “equally to blame / Is anyone who puts the personal / Above the overall thing / puts friend or family first” (18). Creon openly criticizes leaders who excuse personal relationships to disregard any command and law. Instead, he declares his confidence that he will not exempt anyone from the law. This inept quality would foreshadow later within the play when it was Creon’s niece who would disobey his
Another scene in the play which demonstrates Creon’s ineffective rule is when Teiresias comes to deliver Creon’s prophecy. Teiresias first addresses Creon by informing him to listen to what the prophet has to say. Here is where it is evident that Creon is often one minded in his thinking. As soon as Creon is asked to listen he snaps back at Teiresias, “I am not aware that I have ever failed to listen.” (Sophocles 835)
Above all else, Creon values the health of the state. Creon, having gained the throne after the recent deaths of the only two heirs, declares, “No one values friendship more highly that I; but we must remember that friends made at the risk of wrecking our ship[Kingdom] are not real friends at all” (Sophocles 945). To him, the bond between friends is inferior to the well-being of the state. Relationships that risk “wrecking our [country]” are completely meaningless. Creon’s own nephew, Polyneices, was shown not even the slightest shred of respect due to the fact that he was a traitor.
However, on the other hand, Creon is also stubborn and unwilling to listen to the opinions of others. He is a man who is unwilling to consider alternative viewpoints, and this ultimately leads to his downfall. His rigid adherence to the laws of the state causes him to make cruel and unjust decisions, particularly in regards to the treatment of Antigone. He believes that his actions are just and that he is acting in the best interests of the state, but in reality, his decisions are driven by his own pride and desire for power.
After Antigone’s brothers Eteocles and Polyneices killed each other in battle, King Creon has only Eteocles properly buried but proclaimed regarding Polyneices: “No Burial of any kind. No wailing, no public tears. Give him to the vultures, unwept, unburied, [to] be a sweet treasure for their sharp eyes and beaks” (Sophocles 2-3). Despite Creon’s direct orders and threat of stoning, Antigone covers Polyneices’s body in a layer of dirt as a sign, similar to the process described in “Ancient Greek Burial Customs.” When Ismene, Antigone’s sister, asks why she is so willing to risk her life for the dead, Antigone reasons that she “must be good to those [who] are below” because she “will be there longer than with [her]” (Sophocles 4).
Creon then replies to this saying, “The State is the King!” (221). Haimon tries to point out to Creon that a well run state needs to let other people have a say in what goes on, not just the king. Creon believes he is the only one making the decisions, and that his orders should not be questioned. This shows how Creon believes his is above all
Creon thought he had the most power over everybody but it turns out that the Gods were the ones with the power. In the play Antigone, Creon is a tragic hero which advances the play when he interacts with Antigone by acts of injustice, free choice and weakness. To begin with, Creon was unjust when he Punished Antigone for burying her own brother. “So she [Antigone] must die- that
Furthermore, the exchange between Haemon and Creon also serves as a reminder that a ruler should never denounce or be biased against a specific group because it leads to irrational and selfish decision making, that lead to the destabilization of the community as a
Because of this, it shows the audience Creon's pride in his decision making. Comparing Antigone's reverential faith and Creon's pride and self-assurance, a clear contrast can be made, Antigone’s faith leads her to do things against Creon ’s rule due to her beliefs, while Creon implements and enforces these rules due to his self-assurance. In conclusion, Antigone is a major foil in the Greek tragedy of Antigone against Creon due to her unyielding religious faith, causing her to go against Creon, and Creon’s exceptional self-assurance, causing these rules to be made and punishments to be carried
In lines 599 to 601, Creon’s states that, due to his selfishness and stubbornness, he will not allow a woman, that woman being Antigone, to change his mind and defy his judgement. He declares that, if Antigone chooses to not change her ways, she will be killed, as to not waver from his own decree. Antigone therefore dies as a result of Creon’s insufferable and ignorant ruling, causing her to suffer at Creon’s hand. Creon’s ruling for the murder of Antigone also causes Haemon to suffer. Creon finds Haemon, in his last moments, mourning the loss of Antigone, “now among the dead, his father’s work,” as described by the messenger in line 1364.
As long as I am King, no traitor is going to be honored with the loyal man. But whoever shows by word and deed that he is on the side of the State,––he shall have my respect while he is living and my reverence when he is dead ( Scene 1). Creon’s regards towards his own laws cause him to withdraw from all other beliefs or opinions that others have to offer him. He believes that the people of Thebes should obey his rules if they want his support.
Creonʻs punishment for Antigone did not only affect her, but also everyone who was involved in the situation, including Creon. Creonʻs punishment for Antigone was not justified for three reasons: Antigoneʻs love for her family being put first, Creon is trying to prove himself, and Antigoneʻs beliefs.
(Antigone 8). This quote shows that he wants everyone to obey him and anyone who disobeys him will get in trouble. The last support can be found when Creon said, “But he who crosses law, or forces it, or hopes to bring the ruler under him, shall never have a word of praise from me.” (Antigone 23). This means that Creon is “madly in love” with his power and thinks that he can do anything because he is the king.
Decisions always have consequences In the play Antigone by Sophocles, Creon decisions brought a long devastation to him and his family. Antigone’s decision to bury her brother against Creon’s will, made Creon to verdict the death sentence for Antigone. Although, she knew that her actions will have a devastating end instead she preferred to honor her brother Thebes. One thing is for sure, Creon decisions weren’t the best.
In the tragedy Antigone by Sophocles, Creon is an authoritative and wise ruler. For example, when Creon addresses the Chorus, he says, "...and as for the man who sets private friendship above the public welfare -- I have no use for him either" (1.23-25). Clearly, Creon informs the Chorus that he has "no use" for anyone who practices favoritism, and he makes it clear that he expects each of his officers to act professionally and responsibly. Though this lack of tolerance may seem cruel, it only helps Creon to assert his authority over the others; but one could argue that this quality is necessary to maintain order in one's kingdom. Obviously, as stated by Creon earlier that, "no ruler can expect complete loyalty for his subjects until he has
All of these three reasons are connected to each other, when Creon has too much of self-righteousness and too much of a pride because he is a king, he does not listen to others and so the problems occur. So, all the things that he did comes back to him and strike him hard. He lost all his love ones, his son killed himself, his wife cursed him of as being the killer of her son before she died. Also, Antigone has to die because of him, his characteristic of a tragic hero in this tragedy in not to follow. We can learn from Creon that do not make ourselves higher than other and be self-centered.