Antigone Conflict Between Creon And Haemon
Imani Ali
Antigone Writing Assignment
Noah Eber-Schmid
5 March 2017
Conflict 3: Creon and Haemon (pages 41-49)
Creon, as the ruler of the land, is obligated to carry out social order. He has ordered that the body of Polynices should be left to rot because he was a traitor to the city. Antigone has disobeyed Creon’s orders by digging up her brother’s grave after his proper burial rites were forbidden. She has already buried her parents and brother Eteocles, who died fighting Polynices, and feels obligated to honor her brother’s life. Antigone is also determined to obey the gods, because it is against morality to leave any corpse unburied. She informs Creon that “Death longs for the same rites for all”.
Haemon is Antigone’s fiance and also the son of Creon. His father asks of his …show more content…
The question of debate is whether it is more important to be loved or fear by the people of Thebes. I find it more compelling to choose the latter. Antigone is not above the law just because her father was the previous ruler— allowing her to walk free of her crime would be irresponsible and weak of Creon. It is important for him to put his foot down and solidify his power; to create fear rather than hope for love. This ideology comes from The Prince, where Machiavelli says in Chapter 17, “One should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is much safer to be feared than loved” (51). Polynices brought Thebes to chaos, and this is consequence of his action. In order to promote peace, Creon must be strict on his punishments and orders. His obligation is to the people and the city for which he rules over. No exceptions can be made or else the city is left vulnerable; even if it means to death for his own family. Creon is doomed whether he lets Antigone go or not: he is faced with the outcome of fear and hatred or potential love and
Antigone Writing Assignment
Noah Eber-Schmid
5 March 2017
Conflict 3: Creon and Haemon (pages 41-49)
Creon, as the ruler of the land, is obligated to carry out social order. He has ordered that the body of Polynices should be left to rot because he was a traitor to the city. Antigone has disobeyed Creon’s orders by digging up her brother’s grave after his proper burial rites were forbidden. She has already buried her parents and brother Eteocles, who died fighting Polynices, and feels obligated to honor her brother’s life. Antigone is also determined to obey the gods, because it is against morality to leave any corpse unburied. She informs Creon that “Death longs for the same rites for all”.
Haemon is Antigone’s fiance and also the son of Creon. His father asks of his …show more content…
The question of debate is whether it is more important to be loved or fear by the people of Thebes. I find it more compelling to choose the latter. Antigone is not above the law just because her father was the previous ruler— allowing her to walk free of her crime would be irresponsible and weak of Creon. It is important for him to put his foot down and solidify his power; to create fear rather than hope for love. This ideology comes from The Prince, where Machiavelli says in Chapter 17, “One should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is much safer to be feared than loved” (51). Polynices brought Thebes to chaos, and this is consequence of his action. In order to promote peace, Creon must be strict on his punishments and orders. His obligation is to the people and the city for which he rules over. No exceptions can be made or else the city is left vulnerable; even if it means to death for his own family. Creon is doomed whether he lets Antigone go or not: he is faced with the outcome of fear and hatred or potential love and