Kreon Burial At Thebes Analysis

As the new monarch of Thebes, Kreon is insecure and unsure on how to regain the polis’ trust. The aftermath of this civil war has left the city in great havoc and in a state of confusion, their trust in the monarchy has significantly diminished after Oedipus and the civil war between his two sons, Eteokles and Polyneices. Kreon, as a way to reclaim order and allow the city to put all the blame and hatred towards an individual for all of their recent calamities, claims that Polyneices shall not be given a proper burial. However, this decree is tested by two individuals, Haemon and Teiresias who try and sway Kreon’s decision. Teiresias, was effective in his ability to overturn Kreon’s edict and in turn sway his judgement. He was triumphant in
Both individuals are able to foretell the discontent, ill luck, and misfortune that will befall upon the city and Kreon himself if this decree is administered. In the dialogue exchange between Haemon and Kreon, Haemon states, “Then she will die, in death destroying someone else!” (Page 51, Line 751). Likewise, Teiresias puts forth, “In rage have I left fly these arrows, archer-like against your heart, since you have pained me; they are sure, and running will not help you to escape their fire” (Page 65, Lines 1084-1086). Kreon’s decree is a symbolic metaphor of his tyrannical, totalitarian monarchy style. Haemon and Tieresias, are both able to distinguish that his ego is far too large and his viewpoints are far too closed-minded, unable to acknowledge the consequences that these could potentially have on Thebes. Although Teiresias is aware of the fact that Kreon is unconcerned about the well-being and prosperity of the city immediately, and Haemon only realizes as the conversation with his father progresses, both come to understand why it is that he won’t revoke his decree. In turn Haemon utters, “And on a ship, if he who holds the power strains the rigging tight and does not yield, he turns his rowing benches over and completes his voyage upside down. So come, yield from your rage; allow yourself to change […] there is no true city that belongs
Haemon’s plea to his father primarily focuses on preventing Antigone’s death and not how her death will impact Haemon himself. Knowing Kreon, he doesn’t value women, nor did any other man during the time, viewing women as possessions or trophies. Therefore, the approach Haemon takes is not an astute one, Kreon won’t value how hurt Haemon is going to be at Antigone’s death because he sees her as being replaceable. Haemon states, “But I can hear, in the dark obscurity, the things the city says in lamentation for this girl: that she among all women least deserves to die the evilest of deaths for deeds most glorious, since she did not let her own brother, fallen in the bloody slaughter, lie unburied or be torn apart by fierce flesh-eating dogs or birds of prey,” (Page 48, Line 692-698) meanwhile; Kreon shrugs this off. On the other hand, Teiresias in turn, appeals to Kreon’s emotions by placing a focus on the repercussions these actions could have on his family, happiness and pleasure, and as his role as a monarch. “And you, know well you shall not live through many more swift-racing courses of the sun before you give a child of your own flesh and blood in turn, a corpse to pay for corpses, since you’ve cast below a person who belongs above,