Antigone Ver Creon Character Analysis
Sophocles' short story “Antigone” displays a myriad of tragedies intertwined in one family. Sophocles' heroine, Antigone faces execution, Antigone's betrothed Haemon toils with the moral dilemma of being loyal to his father or future wife, while Haemon's father, Creon refuses to learn justice until it is too late.
Antigone is a strong-minded young woman, who forgoes the laws of society to honour her deceased brother with a proper burial. After mourning the deaths of her parents and two brothers, Antigone no longer has a jest for life. Antigone is only concerned with avenging the laws against her brother, even though it means she will put her own life in jeopardy. When speaking with Creon she immediately admits her crimes, “Yes, I confess; I will not deny my deed.” (1503). As Antigone is being sent to her execution, she laments her loss of experience in life. She begins to show …show more content…
very human emotions admitting that her life is unfulfilled without marriage and children, “Creon thinks me wrong, even a criminal, and now takes me by the hand and leads me away, unbedded, without bridal, without share in marriage and in nurturing of children; as lonely as you see me...” (1513). Antigone is overwhelmed with the tragedy that has become of her family and her own life. She gives in to the demand of Creon and commits suicide.
Haemon is first portrayed as a loyal son who does not want to upset his father's decisions, "Father, I am yours; with your excellent judgement you lay the right before me, and I shall follow it. No marriage will ever be so valued by me as to override the goodness of your leadership." (1507). After further discussion Haemon begins to defend Antigone's freedom. He feels betrayed by his father's lack of empathy. This is evidenced in the repertoire between Haemon and Creon:
Haemon: I see your acts as mistaken and unjust.
Creon: Am I mistaken, reverencing my own office?
Haemon: There is no reverence in trampling God's honour.
Creon: Your nature is vile, in yielding to a woman.
Haemon: You will not find me yield to what is shameful. (1512)
Unable to discover a compromise, Haemon states, “Then she must die – and dying destroy another” (1512), and leaves his father in anger. Haemon is devastated when he finds that Antigone has hung herself; in angst he kills himself as well. Haemon and Creon's inability to understand each others motives as well as Haemon's blinding love for Antigone contribute to the second tragedy in Sophocles' story.
Creon is introduced as the powerful leader of Thebes.
He is intimidating, and stubborn in his ways. He has no regard for Antigone and repeatedly mocks her gender, “This girl has learned her insolence before this, when she broke the established laws. But here is still another insolence in that she boasts of it, laughs at what she did. I swear I am no man and she the man if she can win this and not pay for it” (1504). Creon's behaviour suggests that he is daunted by anyone who threatens his authority. He blindingly refuses advice from Haemon and the citizens of Thebes, “Empty of sense yourself, you will regret your schooling of me in sense” (1510). Creon eventually becomes paranoid from a prophecy told by a Theban elder. He realizes that the gods wish for Antigone to be spared. In finding Antigone, he sees her fate and witnesses Haemon's suicide. Creon also finds his wife has taken her life in hearing of Haemon's death. Creon realizes that his ignorance has caused insurmountable tragedy, “These acts can never be made to fit another to free me from guilt. It was I that killed her”
(1523).
The unfortunate tragedy of Sophocles' story surmounts from Creon's immature view on justice. His actions influence Antigone and Haemon to take drastic measures, ultimately resulting in Creon's unhappiness. As the tragedy starts with Antigone's mourning of her family, it ends with her opposed mourning his.
Antigone is a strong-minded young woman, who forgoes the laws of society to honour her deceased brother with a proper burial. After mourning the deaths of her parents and two brothers, Antigone no longer has a jest for life. Antigone is only concerned with avenging the laws against her brother, even though it means she will put her own life in jeopardy. When speaking with Creon she immediately admits her crimes, “Yes, I confess; I will not deny my deed.” (1503). As Antigone is being sent to her execution, she laments her loss of experience in life. She begins to show …show more content…
very human emotions admitting that her life is unfulfilled without marriage and children, “Creon thinks me wrong, even a criminal, and now takes me by the hand and leads me away, unbedded, without bridal, without share in marriage and in nurturing of children; as lonely as you see me...” (1513). Antigone is overwhelmed with the tragedy that has become of her family and her own life. She gives in to the demand of Creon and commits suicide.
Haemon is first portrayed as a loyal son who does not want to upset his father's decisions, "Father, I am yours; with your excellent judgement you lay the right before me, and I shall follow it. No marriage will ever be so valued by me as to override the goodness of your leadership." (1507). After further discussion Haemon begins to defend Antigone's freedom. He feels betrayed by his father's lack of empathy. This is evidenced in the repertoire between Haemon and Creon:
Haemon: I see your acts as mistaken and unjust.
Creon: Am I mistaken, reverencing my own office?
Haemon: There is no reverence in trampling God's honour.
Creon: Your nature is vile, in yielding to a woman.
Haemon: You will not find me yield to what is shameful. (1512)
Unable to discover a compromise, Haemon states, “Then she must die – and dying destroy another” (1512), and leaves his father in anger. Haemon is devastated when he finds that Antigone has hung herself; in angst he kills himself as well. Haemon and Creon's inability to understand each others motives as well as Haemon's blinding love for Antigone contribute to the second tragedy in Sophocles' story.
Creon is introduced as the powerful leader of Thebes.
He is intimidating, and stubborn in his ways. He has no regard for Antigone and repeatedly mocks her gender, “This girl has learned her insolence before this, when she broke the established laws. But here is still another insolence in that she boasts of it, laughs at what she did. I swear I am no man and she the man if she can win this and not pay for it” (1504). Creon's behaviour suggests that he is daunted by anyone who threatens his authority. He blindingly refuses advice from Haemon and the citizens of Thebes, “Empty of sense yourself, you will regret your schooling of me in sense” (1510). Creon eventually becomes paranoid from a prophecy told by a Theban elder. He realizes that the gods wish for Antigone to be spared. In finding Antigone, he sees her fate and witnesses Haemon's suicide. Creon also finds his wife has taken her life in hearing of Haemon's death. Creon realizes that his ignorance has caused insurmountable tragedy, “These acts can never be made to fit another to free me from guilt. It was I that killed her”
(1523).
The unfortunate tragedy of Sophocles' story surmounts from Creon's immature view on justice. His actions influence Antigone and Haemon to take drastic measures, ultimately resulting in Creon's unhappiness. As the tragedy starts with Antigone's mourning of her family, it ends with her opposed mourning his.