Topic > Creon and his opinions in Antigone

Throughout Antigone, Creon remains completely confident in his belief that, to prevent anarchy and chaos, a king's rule must be obeyed even if it contradicts correct morality and/ or the will of the gods. The decisions he makes in an attempt to uphold this belief ultimately lead to his downfall and the deaths of most of his family. Of the many opportunities he is given to retract his decree against Polyneices' dignified burial, the most significant are Antigone's dissent, Haemon's suggestions, and Teiresias' prophecy. Through the use of repeated examples that illustrate Creon's inability to change his opinions, Sophocles demonstrates his belief that a king who puts his desires above maintaining a moral position and the laws of the gods is ultimately corrupt and will inevitably encounter bitter consequences. no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Antigone's initial rebellious actions in reaction to Creon's immoral decision directly show how her belief causes anarchy rather than prevents it. By denying Polyneices' right to a proper burial, a right granted to all humans during this time period, Creon is not only acting immorally but also against the will of the gods. Antigone is the first in the play to realize her mistake and that it is her duty to break the king's rule, claiming “that this crime is holy” (192). Her use and attachment to the word "holy" portrays Antigone's loyalty to divinity which appears to be the greatest contrast between her and Creon: their belief in the power of the gods. While it could be argued that Creon believes his word is equal to or even superior to that of the gods, Antigone “would not transgress the laws of heaven” even if she were to act in opposition to the laws of the kingdom because she values ​​life after death. over which the gods have immense control (228). Through this statement, he explains how the law of the gods should always be respected before the law of the realm, regardless of the circumstances. Yet his dissent, permitted by God, is not enough to sway Creon's stubborn mind, thus causing the objection to emerge from a new and more significant source: family. Creon's second fatal mistake is his refusal of his son's request to spare Antigone's life. As Haemon fails to convince his father to change his mind, he becomes increasingly disappointed by his father's stupidity. At the beginning he simply suggests that “there are also other men who know how to reason; and their opinions might be useful” (218). Sophocles uses Haemon as a preacher of his own belief in the importance of understanding and even incorporating the ideas of others into one's own ideas. It is also important to note Haemon's choice of words. By using vague language (“there are other men”) and the adjective “might,” Haemon attempts to make a rational suggestion without offending Creon. However, the king remains stubborn, leaving Haemon with no choice but to confront him directly. He even highlights his father's fatal flaw, stating that "it is not right to never give in to reason" (219). In this remark, Haemon chastises his father for his stubbornness, particularly his inability to recognize the good judgment of others when it contradicts his own opinions. Through his observation Haemon describes the kind of leadership that should be expected not only from the king of Thebes, but also from the ruler of Athens. However, Creon's stubbornness is too strong as he states, "My voice is the only voice that gives orders in this city!" (220), once again denying the existence of the..