The Conflict between the Worldviews and Values of Creon and Antigone
Topic: How, exactly, is the conflict between the worldviews and values of Creon and Antigone resolved over the course of the play? Which side, if either, does the play as a whole endorse?
The conflict between the two main characters is resolved tragically with the death of Antigone, her fiancé Haemon and the queen. The series of deaths leaves Creon all alone in guilt, regretful of what he has done and finally aware of his irredeemable mistakes. The conflict between Antigone and Creon begins with Antigone sneaking out in the misty morning to perform the burial of his brother, Polynieces, and later being brought by the guards to face Creon. In the heated confrontation with Creon, by opposing the male authority in a patriarchal society with the aim of defending her brother, Antigone emphasizes the importance of both family bonds and the permanent laws of the gods over the power of man-made laws, finding death more preferable to obeying his edict. Creon, however, refuses to allow anyone to challenge his authority and further affirms his ruling power over Thebes, stubbornly holding a biased belief that women are of lower status and should be submissive, and that yielding to Antigone is no less than an inconceivable and unforgivable act. Despite the fact that he is related to Antigone, the bride-to-be of his son, Creon sentences her to death, keeping her in a rocky, dark cavern in which Antigone later committed suicide by hanging herself from a noose of muslin. Distraught and grief-stricken because of his Antigone’s death, Haemon attacks his father with a sword but failed, plunging it deep into his ribs instead. Upon knowing her beloved son’s death, the queen Eurydice kills herself with a keen knife short after, leaving Creon mourn alone in deep guilt and realize his blindness at last. However, it is too late to redeem his flaws. The conflict ends with the breaking of Antigone’s engagement, the loss of three people who are close to Creon and the respect as well as
The conflict between the two main characters is resolved tragically with the death of Antigone, her fiancé Haemon and the queen. The series of deaths leaves Creon all alone in guilt, regretful of what he has done and finally aware of his irredeemable mistakes. The conflict between Antigone and Creon begins with Antigone sneaking out in the misty morning to perform the burial of his brother, Polynieces, and later being brought by the guards to face Creon. In the heated confrontation with Creon, by opposing the male authority in a patriarchal society with the aim of defending her brother, Antigone emphasizes the importance of both family bonds and the permanent laws of the gods over the power of man-made laws, finding death more preferable to obeying his edict. Creon, however, refuses to allow anyone to challenge his authority and further affirms his ruling power over Thebes, stubbornly holding a biased belief that women are of lower status and should be submissive, and that yielding to Antigone is no less than an inconceivable and unforgivable act. Despite the fact that he is related to Antigone, the bride-to-be of his son, Creon sentences her to death, keeping her in a rocky, dark cavern in which Antigone later committed suicide by hanging herself from a noose of muslin. Distraught and grief-stricken because of his Antigone’s death, Haemon attacks his father with a sword but failed, plunging it deep into his ribs instead. Upon knowing her beloved son’s death, the queen Eurydice kills herself with a keen knife short after, leaving Creon mourn alone in deep guilt and realize his blindness at last. However, it is too late to redeem his flaws. The conflict ends with the breaking of Antigone’s engagement, the loss of three people who are close to Creon and the respect as well as