Arrogance In Antigone By Creon Essay
The act of arrogance has various effects on one’s life. During the ancient times, Greek and Roman citizens levels of arrogance were taken into great consideration in attempt not to displease their gods. Back then, when the belief of Roman and Greek gods were widely popular, the idea of being hubris and offending the gods was highly frowned upon which would explain the numerous plays and books about it. One story in particular, titled Antigone, displays this form or arrogance. In the story, The reader comes to understand that Sophocles’ message to his audience is arrogance can lead to one's demise. This theme becomes apparent when one examines Creon’s development over the course of the text, as well as his interactions with other characters. In the play, Antigone, Creon, the New King of Thebes, has made a decree about two recently deceased princes-while Eteocles can be buried with full military honors Polyneices cannot be buried, for he attacked the city.Oedipus daughter and one of the main character of the story, is the sister of the two fallen brothers and believes it her solemn duty to bury her brother. She confronts her other sister about it but she is worried about Antigone’s well being as well her own and she refuses to help Antigone. Antigone
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goes through with her plan to bury her brother but is caught in the act and is brought to Creon. She is to be put to death by Creon’s order but when Creon’s son, Haimon, hears of this he goes to speak with his father about executing his fiance and saying that if her kills Antigone, her death will cause another. Prophet Teiresias then tells the King that it would be wise not to execute Antigone, in fear of angering the gods but Creon, in an act of pride, refutes the prophet’s words. In response, Teiresias says he will suffer and die. This, Creon reacts to and mulls over his choices and in the end, decides to release Antigone and give Polyneices his burial. Before his order can be verified, he receives word that his son, Haimon, his wife and Antigone have killed themselves. When Creon-The King of Thebes is first introduced in Antigone, he comes off as a true aristocrat- he is very prideful and stubborn and sees himself as never doing anything wrong, the true embodiment of Sophocles’s theme. Creon believed that his word was law, which in turn means: so are his decrees-no matter how immoral they are. Creon declares that Polyneices cannot be buried and anyone who tries will be executed. This is a direct example of his developing arrogance. He believes he can dictate if a person receives a burial, which was practically mandatory in their society. Antigone goes against him and attempts to buries her fallen brother but is caught in the act. As Antigone’s uncle, Creon doesn't want to execute her,but as a prideful king, he has know choice and sends her away to await her death.
Haimon confronts his father about putting his fiancee to death and attempts to persuade him out of it.
Creon, being the arrogant king he is, is appalled that one of his citizens dares to instruct him on how to rule and he refuses to damage his royal image and rejects Haimon’s plea. The argument escalates and Creon desires to kill Antigone in front of him but Haimon tries to diffuse the situation. When Creon still doesn't listen to his pleas, Haimon warns his father about what is to be expected if his bride-to-be, Antigone, is to be put to death(“Then she must die-but her death will cause another.”). Creon’s pretentious attitude blinds him from taking notice that Haimon was threatening himself and not his
father.
As the story progresses, Creon is warned by Prophet Teiresias but he denounces the prophecy, saying that she has ‘sold out’ and believing he has made no mistake in sentencing Antigone to her death. Creon’s ego has reached the point to where he believes he is able to defy the gods will. His decision doesn't go unpunished and his entire family-Haimon and his wife, along with Antigone have committed suicide. With the gods taking away everything he has ever loved, his ego crashes and he said that he is “nothing” and a “no one”. In the end, the once arrogant King of Thebes crumbled into a nobody who is grieving the loss of his son, his wife, and his will to claim the throne. His arrogance has caused his demise although he was warned several times throughout the play on what was bound to happen if he didn't stop.
Creon’s position as King did not save him from the overall wrath of his own pig-headedness and excessive arrogance. Creon constantly ignored the warning signs of his impending doom. His need for unquestioned tyranny built upon his already large ego and when he set a decree that drew a line between human and divine law it set a path for his doom. Though it can't exactly happen in exactly this context, arrogance can still lead people to their downfall. Like in the story, The Tortoise and the Hare, the Hare was so confident in his ability to outrun the Tortoise that he underestimated the tortoise and ultimately lost the race on account of a nap that he believed he had time for. This story is constantly tied into lessons to avoid being ‘bigheaded’.This story, along with Antigone advises you not to get too full of yourself or it can lead to your ruin.
goes through with her plan to bury her brother but is caught in the act and is brought to Creon. She is to be put to death by Creon’s order but when Creon’s son, Haimon, hears of this he goes to speak with his father about executing his fiance and saying that if her kills Antigone, her death will cause another. Prophet Teiresias then tells the King that it would be wise not to execute Antigone, in fear of angering the gods but Creon, in an act of pride, refutes the prophet’s words. In response, Teiresias says he will suffer and die. This, Creon reacts to and mulls over his choices and in the end, decides to release Antigone and give Polyneices his burial. Before his order can be verified, he receives word that his son, Haimon, his wife and Antigone have killed themselves. When Creon-The King of Thebes is first introduced in Antigone, he comes off as a true aristocrat- he is very prideful and stubborn and sees himself as never doing anything wrong, the true embodiment of Sophocles’s theme. Creon believed that his word was law, which in turn means: so are his decrees-no matter how immoral they are. Creon declares that Polyneices cannot be buried and anyone who tries will be executed. This is a direct example of his developing arrogance. He believes he can dictate if a person receives a burial, which was practically mandatory in their society. Antigone goes against him and attempts to buries her fallen brother but is caught in the act. As Antigone’s uncle, Creon doesn't want to execute her,but as a prideful king, he has know choice and sends her away to await her death.
Haimon confronts his father about putting his fiancee to death and attempts to persuade him out of it.
Creon, being the arrogant king he is, is appalled that one of his citizens dares to instruct him on how to rule and he refuses to damage his royal image and rejects Haimon’s plea. The argument escalates and Creon desires to kill Antigone in front of him but Haimon tries to diffuse the situation. When Creon still doesn't listen to his pleas, Haimon warns his father about what is to be expected if his bride-to-be, Antigone, is to be put to death(“Then she must die-but her death will cause another.”). Creon’s pretentious attitude blinds him from taking notice that Haimon was threatening himself and not his
father.
As the story progresses, Creon is warned by Prophet Teiresias but he denounces the prophecy, saying that she has ‘sold out’ and believing he has made no mistake in sentencing Antigone to her death. Creon’s ego has reached the point to where he believes he is able to defy the gods will. His decision doesn't go unpunished and his entire family-Haimon and his wife, along with Antigone have committed suicide. With the gods taking away everything he has ever loved, his ego crashes and he said that he is “nothing” and a “no one”. In the end, the once arrogant King of Thebes crumbled into a nobody who is grieving the loss of his son, his wife, and his will to claim the throne. His arrogance has caused his demise although he was warned several times throughout the play on what was bound to happen if he didn't stop.
Creon’s position as King did not save him from the overall wrath of his own pig-headedness and excessive arrogance. Creon constantly ignored the warning signs of his impending doom. His need for unquestioned tyranny built upon his already large ego and when he set a decree that drew a line between human and divine law it set a path for his doom. Though it can't exactly happen in exactly this context, arrogance can still lead people to their downfall. Like in the story, The Tortoise and the Hare, the Hare was so confident in his ability to outrun the Tortoise that he underestimated the tortoise and ultimately lost the race on account of a nap that he believed he had time for. This story is constantly tied into lessons to avoid being ‘bigheaded’.This story, along with Antigone advises you not to get too full of yourself or it can lead to your ruin.