Creon character. King Creon in Antigone by Sophocles 2022-12-23
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Creon is a character in the Greek tragedy "Antigone" by Sophocles. In the play, he is the brother of the late King Oedipus and becomes the King of Thebes after the death of his nephew Eteocles. As the new ruler, Creon is faced with the challenge of determining how to handle the burial of Eteocles and his brother Polyneices, who died fighting each other for the throne.
Creon is a complex character who is torn between his duty as a ruler and his personal beliefs. On one hand, he is a strong and decisive leader who is determined to maintain order and stability in Thebes. On the other hand, he is also stubborn and inflexible, unwilling to listen to the opinions of others or consider alternative viewpoints.
One of the most notable traits of Creon is his pride. He is highly self-righteous and convinced of his own righteousness, believing that he knows what is best for Thebes and its people. This pride leads him to make some rash and impulsive decisions, such as declaring that Polyneices, who was perceived as a traitor, should not be given a proper burial.
Creon's pride also causes him to have a strained relationship with his niece Antigone, who defies his orders and gives her brother Polyneices a proper burial. Creon sees Antigone's actions as a threat to his authority and becomes determined to punish her, even though she was acting out of love and respect for her family.
Despite his flaws, Creon is not entirely unsympathetic. He is torn between his duty as a ruler and his personal beliefs, and he ultimately pays a heavy price for his stubbornness and pride. In the end, his refusal to listen to others and his rigid adherence to his own beliefs lead to the tragic deaths of Antigone and his own son, Haemon.
Overall, Creon is a complex and multifaceted character who serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and inflexibility. His story highlights the importance of listening to others, considering alternative viewpoints, and being willing to adapt and change in the face of new circumstances.
Creon's Character in Antigone Antigone, Essay
But as he declared his stern decision, he could not retain the disinterestedness and impersonality, expected of a judge. Oates and Eugene O'Neill, Jr. Finally he realizes his flaw, but tragically it is too late. Two brothers have just killed each other fighting over the throne. The last line of the play is the leader of the Chorus saying, 'Wisdom is the supreme part of happiness; and reverence towards the gods must be inviolate.
All tragic heroes suffer from a tragic flaw that leads to their downfall. His conscience, so long atrophied, was stirred. But in the Antigone he was still more odious His egotism, cruelty, rant, and bombast, his self-will, and a proud defiance of the divine laws made him a despicable figure. In the play, he has newly become the King of Thebes, a role previously filled by his brother-in-law Oedipus, and fought over by his nephews Polynices and Eteocles. Instead he loses his entire family.
He insists that Antigone must be punished, or else he will be seen as a lesser man and leader. Stubbornness brands you for stupidity—pride is a crime. He demanded explicit obedience from his son. In the play Antigone. She eventually avenges Jason's betrayal with a series of murders, concluding with the deaths of her own children. .
The following excerpt shows how deeply his pride runs: "CREON: My voice is the one voice giving orders in this City! For like Louis XIV of France he wrongly thought he was the State. Creon, for the time being, was deaf to the good counsel. The tragedy Antigone, by Sophocles, highlights a multitude of essential themes, including the undoing of those with excessive pride. This backfires on him when he finally realizes that he cannot fight against the will of the gods. Creon is faced with the difficult task of punishing his niece, Antigone.
Not if you see things calmly, rationally, as I do. And speech and thought, quick as the wind and the mood and mind for law that rules the city— all these he has taught himself and shelter from the arrows of the frost when there's rough lodging under the cold clear sky and the shafts of lashing rain— ready, resourceful man! As the recalcitrant Antigone makes clear, by saying "yes" to state power, Creon has committed himself to acts he finds loathsome if the order of the state demands it. He demanded undivided loyalty not to the State, but to himself as an individual. The play, Antigone written by Sophocles, presents a tragedy that fits the classical definition, but it is the story of Creon, the king of the main character. Also, Creon learned a valuable lesson from his mistakes that would overall be beneficial to him.
Creon will not listen to anyone. Rather, he represents the very real power of human law and of the human need for an orderly, stable society. Birth into nobility, responsibility for their own fate, and endowed with a tragic flaw, most strongly identify Creon as the tragic hero of Sophocles 's Antigone. If I permit my own family to rebel, How shall I earn the world's obedience? Antigone protested against his action and vindicated truth. Her character is revealed by her interactions with her sister and father-in-law. The chorus members fully sympathize with Medea's plight, excepting her eventual decision to murder her own children.
Both begin their respective trajectories as powerful and respected kings, and both are ultimately punished for defying the will of the gods. Creon, Tool Of Despair In Sophocles Antigone 827 Words 4 Pages Creon, Tool of Despair Of the one hundred and twenty plays and tales Sophocles had written during his time, only seven have survived to today and Antigone a tale of the constant turmoil of the royal family of Thebes is one of those few ancient tales. Character and motivation of Antigone and Creon In the play, Antigone is mainly motivated by love for her family, respect for the gods, and belief in the afterlife. Creon refuses to go back on his decree, because his pride will not allow it. This can be seen when the choragus, a group of elder Thebans, question whether Polynices' burial is the will of the gods.
We see that Creon feels this tragedy when he learns of his son's death. He assumed to be a patriot, and pretended that the welfare of the country and the people was his supreme concern. I would not have spoken to him — nor touched him. His presence is so constant and his words so crucial to many parts of the plays that he cannot be dismissed as simply the bureaucratic fool he sometimes seems to be. And with impiety was coupled excessive pride.
It is this tragedy that makes Creon realize that even his own wisdom is no match for the power and wisdom of the gods. He cautions against the stubborn hubris that Creon clings to, despite advice from his son and others. Oedipus had his fall for his pride. The chorus reached to the speech, and could not retain their dispassionateness. He makes this decision because Eteocles was Oedipus' chosen heir, making Polynices a traitor in trying to usurp his brother's throne.
