Differences Between Antigone And Creon

Has someone ever overpowered you? Did they make you feel like you were practically nothing? Many people feel as if they could help to make something better, but are oftentimes afraid to stand up for themselves; this is especially true with females. This is because they feel inferior to men, especially rulers. In Antigone by Sophocles, both sides of the conflict are morally equal. Antigone and Creon are positioned in a conflict that involves right versus right at times and wrong versus wrong at times, but either way, one side isn’t superior to another. Sophocles feels as if Creon is wrong and because of this, he writes in a biased tone throughout the entire drama, uses terminology to describe the positions of the characters in society, and

uses male chauvinism to persuade the reader into agreeing with him. His idea of the drama being right versus wrong is an idea that not everyone agrees with, but is present in the drama.
With this in mind, one can realize that Sophocles writes the drama in a way that persuades the reader into thinking something that he agrees with. He writes in a biased tone to make the reader understand the drama in the way he meant for it to be interpreted. He does this because he wants his point of writing the drama to be understood. An example of this would be when Antigone goes against the ruler’s word and buries her brother when she knows that there’s a consequence. One can recognize that Antigone knows that she will be given a punishment for her actions because she tells her sister, Ismene,
That Creon has sworn
No one shall bury him, no mourn for him,
but his body must lie in the fields, a sweet treasure
and the penalty
Stoning to death in the public square! (Prologue. 19-25 ).
Although Antigone is honoring her brother, she knows that she will be given a punishment but still doesn’t listen to Creon and therefore she does deserve a punishment for her actions. Sophocles makes it clear that Antigone does not deserve a punishment and that Creon is wrong. He brings his biased thoughts into the drama through other characters’ words. He makes the reader feel as if Antigone is innocent just because Creon is not backing down on a punishment. Creon even makes the punishment less harsh, and sends Antigone to a vault with some food to die off, instead of killing her in front of the entire public. Even though Creon lessons the punishment for Antigone, Sophocles still persuades the reader into thinking that Crean should have taken the punishment away as a whole.
Additionally, Sophocles lets the reader visualize the harsh quarrels Antigone and Creon share. This helps one to learn the personalities of the characters and the way they interact with other people. An example of this would be:
ANTIGONE. Crean, what more do you want than my death?
CREON. Nothing. / That gives me everything. (1.2.106-08).
Sophocles doesn't explain why Crean’s response is so cruel which makes the reader think of Crean as evil. If one were to think about it, it gives Crean everything because the killing of the “criminal” was his plan all along. His plan would then be completed successfully if Antigone were dead. If his punishment wasn’t put down successfully, the entire empire would see him as weak. If one thought about this response or if Sophocles were to explain Creon’s response, then the reader could think differently about Creon. Sophocles terminology in the drama could even be considered biased.
Above all, the title of the play is biased. The title even shows the reader how biased of a writer Sophocles is. The title of the play could have been anything Sophocles wanted, but he made it Antigone. The title, Antigone, doesn’t even give an idea to the reader about what the drama is about. After the story is read one can automatically infer that Antigone was Sophocles favored character. They can also assume that there is an extensive amount of biased information given throughout the drama.
In another way, Sophocles uses very broad and expressive words to describe the character’s personalities and traits throughout the drama.

His words help one to understand what is happening throughout the story and why things play out the way they do. One can also infer what the character’s roles are in society. Sophocles makes the reader aware of the difference in the way people are treated depending on their role in society. For instance, Sophocles persuades one into believing Antigone was the favorable character because he describes Creon as being selfish, making one think Antigone is better. Creon thinks of himself as above all and the best, just because he’s the ruler of the empire. Creon speaks to his audience with sentences like, “Stop! / Must you doddering wrecks” ( 1. 1. 108-09). These comments from Creon let one understand the disrespect Creon shows to his members of the empire. Although Creon is rude and disrespectful, Sophocles doesn’t have the right to say that Antigone is in the right because she still went against Crean’s

word.
Not to mention, Antigone also has a very strong personality. The Choragos, chorus, lets one learn about Antigone’s personality stating, “Like father, like daughter: both headstrong, deaf to reason!” (1.2.85). Although, they are so different, Creon and Antigone have countless similarities in their personalities. One of the biggest similarities was their determination. Antigone wouldn’t give up on honoring her brother and Creon wouldn’t give up on promoting a punishment. The conflict continued to grow throughout the drama because both of these characters wouldn’t give up until they had what they wanted. Considering this, how could one be right, and one be wrong if both of them were fighting for what they wanted? Once again, depending on the situation throughout the drama, they both had wrong and right actions.
Lastly, Sophocles conveys the immense disintegration against women during the time period in his writing.

The idea that men have more power than women is a common thought so it helps to reinforce Sophocles argument. He makes Creon seem even more evil than he is because of this idea that men are insulting women so greatly during the time period. He not only insults women, but thinks of them as weak and fearful. If one were to think about, if they lived during the time period and were male, they would feel the same way about women. For example, when Creon is trying to find out who buried Antigone’s brother, Polyneices, he automatically says “And the man who dared do this?” (1.1.78). Right away Creon goes on to assume that it was a man who went against his word. He thinks women are powerless and hesitant, so they wouldn't go against the ruler’s word when they know a punishment would be given. Again, Sophocles makes one feel sorrow for Antigone and hardship for Creon.

Creon tends to use his power to automatically place himself higher than everyone else, no matter who he’s talking to. In this example, Creon completely forgets that Teiresia is the one who gave him his power:

CREON. You forget yourself! You are speaking to your King.

TEIRESIAS. I know it. You are a king because of me.

(1.5.65-66)
These conversations allow the reader to see the disrespect Creon has even towards individuals that have equal or more power than himself. Having this much confidence not only is a bad thing, but is a good trait to have when being a ruler. A ruler has to have confidence in themselves or they won't ever be able to make decisions or be able to rule the empire steadily. Creon's crude and greedy traits could be valuable or poor depending on the situation.
In Antigone by Sophocles, the author writes the drama in a way that influences one into thinking Creon was an awful person and that he treated Antigone poor. This idea of Creon being cruel makes one feel sorrow for Antigone. Sophocles uses many methods to try to persuade one into thinking Antigone and Creon's conflict was not equal, mainly using biased writing. When the reader thinks deeper into the drama they realize that in either case, Antigone’s or Creon’s, there were rights and wrongs. Both characters were impolite and rude, but had purposeful and determined personalities. All in all they were similar individuals that fought for what they wanted and wouldn’t give up until they achieved it. They each had an equal position in the conflict.