Antogone-creon | EssayIvy.com

Surname 1

Name

Course

Instructor

Date

Effects of Creon’s Ignorance

The play, “Antigone” was written by Sophocles before 441. The play describes every

character in their natural environment and particularly Creon because of his tragic flaws. Being a

king it meant that he was able but he did everything for his own benefit due to his pride that took

over his rational mind thus leading to his demise. Creon was ignorant of what he was being

informed by the people he ruled, but he could not obey even one of them. However, he realizes

when it is too late the importance of obedience. This is the same way that the people in the

society who are ignorant fail to realize their downfalls not until when it is too late. If Creon

would have supported his subjects by obeying the advice of the respected people in the society,

ruled without any prejudices, he would not have lost his family, kingship and support from the

people.

Sophocles introduces Creon in the play in his original performance. Creon is the main

character who features throughout the play. Creon is powerful but wearily and wrinkled man. He

is left lonely after his families die, and the throne robs his mourning and kingship. As a king of

Thebes, Creon uses his power to rule the people as he wishes as opposed to be their servant. His

own son-Haemon–opposed him as pride had already overtaken him than addressing the needs of

Surname 2

the people. However, after Haemon was unable to wound his father, he took a sword against

himself. Moreover, after the death of his son, Creon is informed by a massager that Eurydice is

dead after cursing him due to his fate. Even though the play is named as Antigone, Creon is the

main character as he is demonstrated by his flaws in ignoring the advice of the people and the

mandate he has over them. Even though Creon rules everywhere, it does not stop Antigone to

continue protecting her brother’s death. Sophocles was able to use the rhetoric of hate and love

between Creon and Antigone to expose the weakness of both. Since Antigone respected the gods

he had to give his brother a nice burial. However, due to hatred, Creon ordered for the killing of

Antigone thus not following the words of the chorus by Teiresias. Due to pride and disobedience,

Creon regrets that he ignored the influence and the power of the gods after losing his peace,

kingship and family.

Creon ignorance leads him to his downfall. He is not ready to listen to the advice of

others. Since his pride is so great, he does not see himself in his ruling as a person who can

commit any wrong. When he is speaking to Teiresias, he does not reflect upon his deeds and

realize that he has done something wrong to Antigone. He goes further and says “Whatever you

say, you will not change my will.”(227)In this particular statement, it means that there is no one

who cares the way he is ruling the people. He does not see that the people need to be ruled in a

good manner but rather he is just monopolizing everything as he is a powerful and a perfect

person. For him “The State is King!”(227). According to him, he is much better than the gods.

His pride is the one that makes him look powerful but he ignores the advice he is receiving from

the people who will bring him down. As a leader, he is not supposed to have self-righteousness

that he thinks that the only people who can make wrong decisions are others but not him.

Surname 3

According to Stocking, Creon is not ready to listen to the prophet. Teresias inform him

about his prophecy but he thinks that with his position and power, nothing can affect his life.

According to the prophecy, the gods are angry with the king but instead of trying to change, he

is ignorant of the word of Teiresias, “Think: all men make mistakes, but a good man yields when

he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride. Give in to the dead

man, then: do not fight with a corpse— what glory is it to kill a man who is dead?” (pg 1052-

1055, lines 33-37) According to this statement, Creon has a chance to change and be a good

person as well as let Antigone free. However, he does not see the need of him releasing Antigone

but rather keeps him. His pride overtakes him which demonstrated that he is already doomed.

According to Teiresias, a good leader is the one who looks at his ways and corrects them, but for

Creon, he is not ready to humble himself. Therefore, as it was prophesied by Teiresias, Creon is

already doomed and there is no way he will escape his fate (6). Creon’s lack of wisdom is

realized when he says.

CREON. O agony?

Thou house of Death, that none may purify, 1472

Why dost thou thus destroy me?

O thou who comest, bringing in thy train Woes horrible to tell,

Thou tramplest on a man already slain 1476

What say’st thou? What new tidings bring’st to me?

Ah me! ah me!

Is it that over all the slaughter wrought

My own wife’s death has come to crown it all? 1480

Chor. It is but all too clear! No longer now

Does you recess conceal her. [The gates open and show the dead body of EURYDICE.

Surname 4

CREON. Woe is me!

This second stroke I gaze on, miserable, 1484

What fate, yea, what still lies in wait for me?

Here in my arms I bear what was my son;

From this statement it is clear that Creon had realized that he had made a mistake for not

listening to the people and his family thus losing everything (Sophocles 35).

Creon was not ready to bury Polynices. Instead of respecting the dead, he opts not to

respect one of his family members. Instead of Creon showing respect for the gods who says that

the dead is given a good burial, he opts doing so to Eteocles than Polynices’ body. Creon says

that the body be left on the battlefield. Creon, reasons for not burying Polynices was because he

acted as a traitor and he will be an example to others especially those who attack their homeland.

However, Antigone is ready to suffer for his brother. She disobeys the kings’ orders in order to

bury the body of Polynices. If the body is not buried then his soul will never find peace until it is

buried according to the Greek’s beliefs. However, Iseme refuses to help her in the burial of

Polynices, but Antigone, succeeds in burying his brother (Scodel 4).

“I would not ask thee. No! If thou should wish

To do it, and wouldst gladly join with me.

Do what thou wilt; I go to bury him;

And good it was, this had done, to die (80).

Loved I shall be with him whom I have loved,

Guilty of holiest crime. More time have I

In which to win the favor of the dead,

Than that of those who live; for I shall rest (84)

Surname 5

Forever there. (Ll. 77-85).

Iseme refuses because she is timid and she is ready to obey the rules. Even though Iseme is

admiring what Antigone is doing, she thinks that Antigone is hot-headed. In ensuring that the

people are following his commands, Creon called the chorus to make sure they will obey his

commands. Creon thinks that his duties should come first than other considerations. However,

Antigone is not going back. The chorus says “Still the same storms possess her with the same

precipitance of spirit.” (Pg. 34).This statement means that Antigone Is ready to suffer by

disobeying the orders of the king. Antigone believes in doing well especially in honoring the

gods and that is why she asks, what celestial Right did I transgress?” (Pg. 34). In this statement,

Antigone believes in doing good as it will help the gods because she has not disobeyed the gods

who are more powerful than man (Sophocles34).

In conclusion, Creon, who is the king in the play “Antigone”, was good and dedicated to

serving the people in their own will. However, he is able to overcome by his pride to the level of

disobeying the gods. Moreover, Creon ignores the advice of Teiresias and other people he is

ruling. Moreover, he refuses to bury the body of Polynices as an example to others forgetting he

died while defending his country. The hatred that is between Creon and Antigone shows their

weaknesses and yet they belong to one family. The ignorance of Creon leaves him without a

family, peace, friends, and kingship which is too hard to bear, simply because he did not listen to

anyone on improving the affairs of the people.

Surname 6

Work Cited

Elyshia, “It takes more muscles to frown than it takes to smile” 10 September 2013.Web 28

April 2018 https://elyshia97.wordpress.com/2013/09/10/think-all-men-make-mistakes-

but-a-good-man-yields-when-he-knows-his-course-is-wrong-and-repairs-the-evil-

the-only-crime-is-pride-Teiresias/

Scodel, Ruth. “The Causes of Ruin: Antigone”Twayne's World Authors Series731. Boston: Twayne

Publishers, 1984. p43-57.

Sophocles (c.496 B.C.–406 B.C.). Antigone.The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. Enter Antigone

and Ismene

Stocking, Damian, “Antigone, Desoeuveree: Tragedy, Finitude, And Community” A journal for the

interdisciplinary study of literature. 41.3 (Sept. 2008): p153+. From Literature Resource Center.

http://www.umanitoba.ca/mosaic/

Place new order. It's free, fast and safe

Paper type

Deadline

Page count

550 words

Total price: $ 15.00

Our customers say

Jeff Curtis

USA, Student

"I'm fully satisfied with the essay I've just received. When I read it, I felt like it was exactly what I wanted to say, but couldn’t find the necessary words. Thank you!"

Ian McGregor

UK, Student

"I don’t know what I would do without your assistance! With your help, I met my deadline just in time and the work was very professional. I will be back in several days with another assignment!"

Shannon Williams

Canada, Student

"It was the perfect experience! I enjoyed working with my writer, he delivered my work on time and followed all the guidelines about the referencing and contents."