Antigone

Full of drama and tragedy, Antigone can be used to relate to current conflicts. One such conflict is that between Haemon and his father Creon. Haemon looks up to Creon with honor and pride, but as conflict arises, that relation is disassociated and new feelings grow. The first conversation between them is what initiates the downfall of their bond. While it seems that Creon is the most important person in Haemon’s life, Antigone is in fact the one that has won Haemon over.

Antigone, written by the Athenian Sophocles, is about a woman named Antigone who lives in a city named Thebes. The play’s plot is based on her attempt to successfully bury her brother Polynices whom perished in a battle with his brother that also assumed the role of king of Thebes. Both brothers lost their lives and the kingship was taken by Creon. Unfortunately, in the attempt to bury her brother, Antigone is caught by a sentry and taken before Creon where he sentences her to death, the set precedent for punishment deemed for the treasonous act of burying of any enemy of Thebes. Creon dismisses Antigone then meets with Haemon, Antigone’s fiancé. As they converse, Creon asks if he is more important than anyone and Haemon reassures he is, but then goes on to say he is narrow minded and sentencing Antigone to death is the wrong thing to do. In the passage starting from line 764 and ending on line 809, Haemon begins to show his view of the actions of his father. His feelings shown in this reflect his future actions in the play.

In the passage, Haemon attempts to coax his father into lessening his punishment for Antigone. Haemon is a loyal son and values his father greatly which is evident in the way he tries to persuade his father. Glorification of his father st...

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... herself. Upon seeing this, Haemon takes his own life, contradicting his past statements expressing his devotion and loyalty to his father with none other in his life to be more important when he says, “Father, I’m your son . . . you in your wisdom set my bearings for me—I obey you. No marriage could ever mean more to me than you…” (Sophocles 709-711) Haemon’s loyalty started with Creon, but it has clearly shifted to Antigone.

Although Haemon glorifies his father and prizes him above all, his love for Antigone overpowers everything driving him to the point of taking his own life.

Works Cited

Knox, Bernard. "Notes: Antigone." Fagles, Robert. The Three Theban Plays. New York. Penguin Group , 1984. 389-405. Print.

Sophocles. "Antigone." 441 B.C.E. Trans Robert Fagles. The Three Theban Plays. Ed Bernard Knox. New York. Penguin Group, 1984. 59-128. Print.