Creon's Pride In Sophocles Antigone

In Sophocles' Antigone(italicize), pride contained in the characters lead to a tragedy. Antigone's pride killed her while Creon's pride made him deaf to righteous opinions and led to the death of his loved ones.

Antigone's pride of duty and responsibility of burying the dead and equality for all led her actions to result in death. Antigone burns her brother even though “Creon bids thee not!" (Sophocles, 55). Antigone buried her dead brother and was caught. The guards who caught Antigone reported to Creon, saying, “She it was by whom the deed was done. We found her burying." (Sophocles, 421-422). Creon asks Antigone if she knew his edict forbidding her brother's burial after she admits her actions. Antigone's pride lets her justify her actions "for it was not Zeus who gave them forth, / Nor Justice, dwelling with the Gods below, / Who traced these laws for all the sons of men;” (Sophocles, 493-495). Her pride also makes her believe that her actions and death will bring her great glory. She readily accepted death because she took pride in burying her brother. If only she waited longer, her life would've been saved because Creon

changed his mind. “And I, since now my judgment leans that way, / Who myself bound her, now myself will loose.” (Sophocles, 1279-1280).
Creon's confidence in his beliefs turns into pride as he faced the advice and opinions of others.

His pride developed a rage in him as he finished his talk with Haemon. Teiresias, a seer whose prophecies were never wrong, warns Creon that if he acts upon his pride it will bring a curse from the gods upon Thebes. Because Teiresias wants Creon to release Antigone which would neutralize the prophecy, Creon begins to insult Teiresias and the seers. “The race of seers is ever fond of gold.” (Sophocles, 1208). Creon drifts away from his original goal changing from one who puts state first faithfully to one whose full of pride. He realizes his error, saying, “Ah, me! ’tis hard; and yet I bend my will / To do thy bidding.” (Sophocles, 1272-1273). However, it is too late when he diminishes his pride to free Antigone for she has already

died.
Even though Creon was able to convince himself to release Antigone, the curse descended. Haemon was found in Antigone's tomb with “the sharp two-edged sword. / Missing his aim (his father from the blow / Turning aside), in anger with himself, / The poor ill-doomed one, even as he was, / Fell on his sword, and drove it through his breast” (Sophocles, 1413-1417). After learning that Haemon is dead, Creon is greeted with more terrible news - his wife is dead.” With her own hand below her heart she stabbed, / Hearing her son’s most pitiable fate.“ (1503-1504)
Creon admits the fault of his. “Ah me! The fault is mine. On no one else, / Of all that live, the fearful guilt can come;” (1505-1506).
When pride took over Antigone and Creon, Antigone set herself up for death and Creon became ignorant to other's recommendation which led to his family members' death. Antigone desired her deceased brother to be buried because of pride. She broke the law with consequences of death and believed she died with great glory. Creon's pride made him blind to reason in his order of killing Antigone despite many warnings. By ignoring others, a curse of death descended upon Thebes. Creon learned that ruling with pride will only leave misfortune.