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Sophocles remains an amazing wordsmith that mastered an art that was almost lost to time. In his work “Antigone” from around 441BC, Sophocles develops themes of strife between family members, going against the gods and how one’s actions can carry on throughout the entire family. Two wonderfully complex characters he uses to develop these themes using literary strategies is the king of Thebes: Creon and his son, Haemon. The actions of these characters advance the plot in ways that can only be described as vital.
To understand the role Haemon and Creon possess one must first have knowledge of Antigone. The story starts with the protagonist Antigone talking to her sister about how their brother Polyneices. Polyneices died in a war against his
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brother to take Thebes, which caused Creon to develop a distaste for him. As punishment he was forbidden burial by Creon and how Antigone strives to break that law and give her brother the burial he deserves. Ultimately, Antigone buries Polyneices but when she goes back to pay respects to the body, she is caught by Creon’s guard and thus brought to Creon for judgement. Creon decrees that she shall but buried alive in a cave and left to die. This causes an issue with Creon’s son Haemon who believes that Antigone was in the right in burying her brother. After an argument Haemon leaves to go rescue Antigone only to find she had hung herself in the time she had. During this time, Creon encounters prophet known as Teiresias who informs him that what he is doing is unjust and will yield him nothing but strife. On the outside Creon acts as if he is unphased by the prophet. Soon after the prophet takes his leave Creon orders his men to release Antigone, going himself to see the deed done. Upon arrival Creon is greeted by his grieving son who angrily lashes out at his father with his sword before impaling himself on the blade. Simultaneously, a messenger informs Creon’s wife Eurydice of what had befallen her son, with this knowledge she silently retreats into the castle. Thrown into despair by the death of her son and how her husband is the one who caused it, like her son she to kills herself. This leaves Creon regretful of his actions, forcing him to live with the knowledge of the pain he has caused. Creon is the classic example of a tragic hero that commonly appeared in Greek plays during the time. Creon was blinded by his pride much like how the protagonist of the prequel to “Antigone“, “Oedipus Rex” was blinded by his lack of knowledge. Creon was conflicted between wishing to be respected as a king and doing the right thing in the eyes of his people and the gods. It’s this internal struggle that develops such a excellent, complex character. To demonstrate this, Creon states in lines 763-3 “For there’s no greater evil than a lack of leadership. That destroys whole cities, turns households into ruins, and in war makes soldiers break and run away.” Sophocles demonstrates irony here in that Creon states that leadership is crucially important, yet he doesn’t truly know how to lead. He doesn’t listen to his people and doesn't listen to people close to him. A gifted leader thinks of the best needs for his people and listens to their opinions and choices. Creon was acting like a tyrant that was to ashamed to admit he made a mistake and free Antigone, fearing it would make him look like an incapable king. It’s this lack of acknowledging his citizens wishes and their views that transform him into what he hates. This once again develops the recurring theme of blindness throughout the Theban plays. As an example, Creon is metaphorically blinded by his pride like Oedipus and his ignorance that lead to both their downfalls. Likewise, Creon also develops the themes that those who go against the gods get punished. After all, Antigone states to Creon in lines 510-514,“I did not think anything which you proclaimed strong enough to let a mortal override the gods and their unwritten and unchanging laws.” So, it’s apparent that the people and the gods themselves take it as a slight as revealed by Teiresias when he tells Creon of the vision stating in lines 1112-1118 “As I was sitting in my ancient place receiving omens from the flight of birds who all come there where I can hear them, I note even among those birds an unknown cry- evil, unintelligible, angry screaming. I know that they were tearing at each other with murderous claws.” Sophocles implements this to symbolize the internal strife going on between the family and the sheer anger that they hold for each other. The gods presented this message to Teiresias to inform him that if this strife continues that bad will befall Creon. But unfortunately, Creon's fate was already decided by his actions. Like his father, Haemon is equally a beautifully characterized character that helped develop recurring themes throughout “Antigone” through Sophocles brilliant ability to weave literary strategies despite Haemon’s limited appearances.
Haemon like many characters in Antigone develops the theme of blindness, not literal blindness but being blinded emotionally by other emotions. He speaks out against the king and even attempts to strike him because he is blinded by love for Antigone. Sophocles foreshadows Haemon’s eventual suicide when in line 859 when he states, “Then she’ll die-and in her death kill someone else.” While it could be interpreted as a threat towards Creon, it seems that was just a red herring to the true meaning. That being that in Antigone’s death she will lead to the deaths of Haemon and Eurydice. Another theme can be interpreted from Haemon’s tragic fate. Sophocles reinforces the theme that the parent’s actions can cause disastrous issues for their children. For example, Antigone states in lines 4-5 “All that misery which stems from Oedipus” and similarly one can say that Haemon’s misery stems from Creon. Creon decides on a topic that directly effects his son without genuinely thinking about his son’s feelings towards the topic. If Creon allowed Antigone to live then the tragic fate that Haemon was dealt could have been avoided. Directly because of the actions of his father. Sophocles demonstrates irony in lines 871-872 in which Haemon states “She’ll not die with me just standing there.” In actuality that is exactly what happens, Antigone hangs herself and leaves Haemon just standing there grieving at the loss of his betrothed. The complexity that shines through as Haemon struggles between his love for his father and his love for Antigone creates such a beautiful internal struggle. One could observe this in his early dialogue as he tries convincing his father to do things what is right but as he gets increasingly angry he resorts to insults and
threats.
Through Haemon's contrasting words, actions, and ideas, Creon's character develops into a tragic hero. Creon is a person of noble stature and also has a tragic flaw of unreasonableness; which are two characteristics of a tragic hero. He is unwilling to listen to anyone's opinion except his. Haemon explains “when men speak well, it good to learn from them.” (line 819) This was a response
Haemon’s words, actions, and ideas contrast with Creon’s character of differing greatly and leading him to the death of his son at fault. “They say all women here, she least deserves the worst deaths for her most glorious act. When in the slaughter her own brother died, she did not just leave him there unburied, to be ripped apart by carrion dogs or birds.”(Lines 788-791) Haemon starts to reveal that he believes that Antigone, his fiance, deserves to not be killed over an act that she has not committed whether or not Creon think is was right. However, Antigone was following the law of the Gods, while Creon was abiding by the law of man. “A man who thinks that only he is wise, that he can speak and think like no one else, when such men are exposed, then we can all see their emptiness inside.”(Lines 803-806) However, when Haemon started to attempt to inform his father, Creon, whose refusal was so high to even consider not killing Antigone that he was only thinking of himself and that one death would lead to another. “Then she’ll die and in her death kill someone else.”(Lines 859) Creon then, only thought of his son as a woman slave. “You woman’s slave, don’t try and win over me.”(Lines 845-855) At first, Haemon looked up to his father, but now after his unsuitable behavior he has chosen not to follow his stubborn
...se Creon was not yet the king of Thebes during the period of Oedipus’s ruling, and Antigone who was not yet a renowned figure acting independently in her own will without any dilemmas. It is until the story of Antigone when Antoine’s rights are desecrated by the might of Creon’s rule and that it led Antigone to bail and revolt against it. This is the dynamic that Sophocles sees in Antigone within the society of Thebes, and through the perception of Antigone’s heroic deeds, equal to that against the behavior of Creon, Sophocles exemplify to the audience the unbalance nature in society.
Haemon makes a point of this by saying, “The people here in Thebes all say the same – they deny she is (Lines 834-835). " This confirms Creon’s status as a tragic hero when he disagrees with his people's opinion on what has happened to Antigone, which causes him to step even closer to his ultimate demise. This is key because Creon shows how his ego comes before his people as Haemon stresses, which explains how his hubris, the emotion called stubbornness will contribute to his downfall. Additional way Haemon shows Creon as a tragic hero is by highlighting how his tragic flaws are not just angering humans, but the god's that their society revolves around. Haemon shows this by saying, “You're not honoring that by trampling on the god’s prerogatives (Lines 850-851).
In the awe-inspiring play of Antigone, Sophocles introduces two remarkable characters, Antigone and Creon. A conflict between these two obstinate characters leads to fatal consequences for themselves and their kindred. The firm stances of Creon and Antigone stem from two great imperatives: his loyalty to the state and her dedication to her family, her religion but most of all her conscience. The identity of the tragic hero of this play is still heavily debated. This tragedy could have been prevented if it had not been for Creon's pitiful mistakes.
In Antigone Creon reveals his obstinate nature and how even someone as important as a king is not invulnerable to the problems such a character flaw causes. In the beginning of Antigone the townspeople of Thebes rejoice in their new leader, “Creon,” they call, “the new man for the new day” (174). The repetition of ‘new’ shows how the city is ready to welcome Creon with open arms; this outright praise of Creon shows how highly he is regarded by his people. “You cannot know a man completely…his sense of judgment, not till he’s shown his colors…making laws” (194-197). Here Sophocles is showing the reader not to trust Creon absolutely because even if it seems that it is a new age is dawning, Creon may not be a good leader. In this passage Creon seems determined to prove that he is as strong as Oedipus and Laius to whom Thebes was extremely loyal even through tough times, he is so desperate to prove himself that soon after he sentences Antigone to death. Later, after Antigone has been captured, Creon’s own son, Haemon, comes to him saying, “don’t please, be quite so single-minded” (789). At this point Creon is being directly told of what he is doing. Haemon is someone Creon shou...
First family is a big part the play. Antigone thinks it is her duty is bury her older brother Polynices, who became a traitor this the kingdom. However Antigone Uncle Creon commanded no one to bury Polynices. After Antigone was caught trying to bury her brother the guards bought her to her uncle, and her uncle tried to help her and not kill her at first. When Antigone says she will bury him again if he lets her go Creon thinks he has no choice, but to put her to death. Even though Creon tried to help Antigone his son; Haemon did not understand why he was doing that to her. Creon had to make a choice in this story between his family and his job, his choice has his job. In the result of that he had lost his niece, son, and wife all of them taking their own lives.
This should show to the audience Creon's power over him. This same power is also be inflicted upon the chorus, whom I shall make interact with the characters as advisors to Creon, they are however not in favour of his tyranny, and I would have them try to waiver his actions away from sentencing Antigone to death. They are however trying to do this and preserve their own lives and so are not overt in their beliefs; they hint on it and merely reinforce Haemon's intentions. They back him up without appearing to be on his side.
He anxiously awaits the day when he can call Antigone his wife, but because she defies King Creon, she deprives him of that opportunity. At first, Haemon tries to be loyal to his father. He tells Creon that he supports his decision to execute Antigone. However, as the conversation continues, he reveals that the community members are starting to renounce Creon’s decision. As the pain of potentially losing his fiancé becomes too much, he also renounces his father’s decision, arguing that the Gods would not condone it. In an act against his father, Haemon hurries to the cave Antigone was exiled to, in hopes to save her, but instead finds her hanging from the veil she was supposed to wear on her wedding day. Instantly overwhelmed with grief, Haemon, “[bewails] the loss of his bride” (Sophocles 152). Similarly, to Ismene’s case, Haemon cannot picture himself living on Earth without Antigone by his side, and commits suicide. In Antigone’s desire to appease the Gods, she abandons her loved ones, and causes them great suffering. This could have been avoided has she not pursued her desire to bury
In the following paper, I plan to discuss the source of conflict between the title characters of Antigone and Creon in Sophocles’ “Antigone”. I also plan to discuss how each character justifies his or her actions and what arguments they give for their justifications. I will also write about the strengths and weaknesses of these arguments. The final points I try to make are about who Sophocles thinks is right and who I think is right.
Antigone was caught and death was the price to pay as ordered by Creon, not to her surprise. Death to Antigone seemed wanted, it was the only thing left as honor for her. Haemon, the son of Creon and Antigone’s fiancé has enough respect for his father that he does not interfere with Creon's decision to put Antigone to death.
Creon in the play of Antigone by Sophocles plays a major role within the play. Antigone also plays an important role, as these two character’s conflicting views led to utter disaster, which highlights Creon as a tragic figure. Within the play Creon attempted to establish decisions for the common good; however, his decisions resulted in tragedy.
Sophocles’ background influenced him to write Antigone. One important influence on the drama was the author’s life in the “golden era” of Athens during fifth century BCE. In that time, Athens was experiencing much change in all facets, and drama was a major factor in Athenian culture. In his essay “Sophocles,” Ed Downey reports that Sophocles was born at the beginning of the “golden era” in Athens and lived a long life influenced by “the artistic and cultural achievements in the ancient Greek world”. Sophocles was a wealthy and highly educated, “happy man.” As a young man, Sophocles began his playwright career, eventually becoming one of the greatest writers in history although only seven of his works are still intact (1). Similarly, the setting
Two human beings find out many things about themselves throughout the play, Creon, an ignorant, sexist king, and Antigone, a passionate, selfless, and loyal princess. Sophocles was a man who was influenced by what was going on in the world around him and teaches lessons with his writings. Sophocles edifies the world, through Creon’s ignorance and pride, to never close yourself off from something that will benefit you in the long run. Through Antigone his professes his message of loyalty to one’s family, passion for what she believes in, and selflessness for putting her dead brother over herself.
Antigone is a relevant piece of literature to many generations because Sophocles’ intended audience was the common people. His play appeals to the weak and oppressed as well as those in power. Sophocles was a playwright and as a writer and he most likely wrote what he observed albeit, his social passion allowed him this freedom. If Antigone, as a woman, represents home and family, then she also represents opposition to the state which is embodied in Creon. There is a palpable distaste between Creon and Antigone from the start of the play. Their relationship not only crosses the state/ home opposition, but the male/female and master/slave oppositions as well. Haemon, the future head of state is engaged to be married to Antigone. He does truly