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Now and then character analysis
Now and then character analysis
Greek myth essay power
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Power, it can be a great thing, but in media we have seen thousands of examples of how it can turn you into your worst self. For, example, Scar from The Lion King, the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland, Governor Ratcliffe from Pocahontas, or really any Disney villain-ever. In the play Antigone, the author Sophocles shows us just how power changed Creon into a power hungry arrogant child, and how his actions and the actions of others made consequences for not just them, but others too. The theme in the play that connects the actions and events of the play Antigone is power. The most distinct traits that Creon has in the play is that he is childish, oblivious to other people’s words, and has qualities of a tyrant.These traits became more …show more content…
visible as Creon gains power. First, Creon is becoming a tyrant. His use of power is becoming unjust and using it not for the good of the people, but for his own selfish reasons. On lines 26-27, Antigone says a quote about Creon, “ He’s honouring one with a full funeral and treating the other one disgracefully!” In this quote,Antigone shows us that Creon is using his power to treat the dead unjustly. Also, this shows he is developing into a tragic hero because Creon probably doesn’t believe his decree is unjust, he just doesn’t want to bury a traitor. On lines 574-575, Antigone tells Creon, “-being king, which offers all sorts of various benefits, means you can talk and act just as you wish.” In this quote she isn’t entirely wrong, Creon being king means he can do or say anything because the people are too afraid of what he will do to them if they speak out. Also in this quote, it shows that the people of Thebes are afraid of him. A tragic hero’s downfall always starts with an action that makes people afraid of them. Creon has started to transition into a tragic hero, his interaction with Antigone definitely speeds up the process when she defies his decree. Secondly, Creon has made people of Thebes afraid of his due to his decree, he honestly believes that the people of Thebes support him when really they’re just too scared to speak up, making him oblivious. On lines 578-579, Antigone says to Creon, “ They share my views, but they keep their mouths shut just for you.” In this quote, Antigone shows us that Creon doesn’t know that Thebes people are afraid of him because of what he could do. Also in this quote, Antigone says the truth, and yet Creon still chooses to ignore her words. On lines 825-826, Creon says to Haemon during their heated argument, “ And men my age- are we then going to school to learn what’s wise from men as young as him?” In this quote we see Creon once again ignore someone’s advice, oblivious to their wise words because all he can see is that Haemon is younger than him, so he couldn’t possibly be wiser than him. Also in this quote we see Creon slipping even more. Earlier in the play, Creon says how a man that doesn’t take advice is the worst kind of man. He is becoming what he said he never was, therefore, he is becoming a tragic hero. Oblivious is a characteristic of Creon’s. He is oblivious to what the Thebes people say, and also how he is becoming the worst of men by totally ignoring what people have to say. The last characteristic that Creon has that shows his transition into a tragic hero is he childish behavior.
How he insults people because they said or did something he didn’t like. On lines 324-326, Creon insults the Chorus Leader by saying, “Stop now-before what you’re about to say enrages me completely and reveals that you’re not only old but stupid, too.” In this quote, Creon insults the Chorus Leader because he said a reasonable thing that Creon doesn’t want to believe, so instead of ignoring him or at least think about it, he insults him like a child. Also in this quote, Creon is once again not taking advice, it’s worse this time because not taking advice from a young man is reasonable sometimes, but the Chorus Leader is wise and older than Creon. On lines 600-601 Creon says to Antigone, “ No woman’s going to govern me-no, no-not while I’m still alive. In this quote, Creon is not only sexist but childish. The way he said this quote was like a child saying he doesn’t want to share. Also in this quote, we see Creon lose his mind a little bit, he is pushing and insulting everyone away. Antigone may have betrayed him, but he is the one making everyone hate him. Creon once again has shown us how tragic he really is. He has become a tragic hero, kind of like every bad guy. He has pushed people away, acted rudely, insulted everyone, and even acted worse than a toddler. Now he can spend the rest of his life as a tragic hero all
alone. The more power Creon got the worse his personality became. He was a child, a huge tyrant, and was even oblivious to how wrong he was the entire time. Everything he did was the actions of a tragic hero.He thought they were right, but with his lack of listening to others, and his arrogance, he made the right choice for him and him alone. The choices he made got his niece killed, and his son killed. Power was a great thing, but someone always has to use it for evil, or at least in the movies they do. Creon is his own tragic hero, no movie character is close enough to be like him. Let’s just keep the power hungry bad guys in the movies.
Throughout the story of Antigone, particularly the end, Creon proposes the bad-boy in control personality. He acts as the ruler he is and puts his power to work. He fears nothing unless his family is involved. He has no mercy when it comes to the law. Additionally, he is greatly affected by the environment he creates around himself.
A tragedy is when someone drops my chocolate milkshake from Chick-Fil-A in the parking lot, but the Greek definition of a tragedy is,”a play in which the protagonist, usually a man of importance and outstanding personal qualities, falls to disaster through the combination of a personal failing and circumstances with which he cannot deal”(Collins). In Sophocles’ play Antigone, Creon is the most tragic character because of his hubris, hamartia, and he is the primary Antagonist.
Have you ever met someone that uses their power to their advantage and doesn't care how it affects another person; Well that is Creon. The actions that Creon took to punish Antigone for buring her brother costed him his wife and son. When you are born or brought up with power don’t use it to your advantage , use it for good.
Creon's noble quality is his caring for Antigone and Ismene when their father was persecuted. Creon is a very authoritative person and demands control of others. When talking to the Chorus, Creon does not ask them to agree with the decree but demands that they follow it. Creon expects loyalty from others. It is apparent that Creon is very dominating and wants to be in control. "The man the city sets up in authority must be obeyed in small things and in just but also in their opposites"(717-719). Through this quote the reader realizes that Creon wants obedience in everything he decides even if he is at fault. "There is nothing worse than disobedience to authority" (723-724). Further supporting Creon's belief that everyone shall remain faithful to him even if he rules unfairly. This is proved true when Creon says, "Should the city tell me how I am to rule them?" (790).
In the beginning of the play Creon is portrayed as King and a leader unwilling to bend the rules in order to protect the city. The way Creon responds to Antigone, “While I’m alive, no woman is going to lord over me”, shows he is stubborn and also his pride. (593-594) While the play continues Creon’s pride grows, and he thinks he can never be wrong and punishes Antigone by locking her up in a cave. However, things turn a different way when the Prophet tells Creon that he must free Antigone or face the wrath of Gods. After hearing this Creon changes his mind, “I shackled her, I’ll set her free myself. I am afraid it’s best to keep the established laws…” (1236-1238) But, as Creon tries to set Antigone free, he is faced with suicides of Antigone and Haemon, and followed by the suicide of his wife, Eurydice. This moment in the play serves as the downfall of Creon. But unlike Antigone, Creon reaches anagnorisis, which is the moment in the play when the tragic character realizes his hubris has led to his downfall. “And the guilt is all mine- can never be fixed…god help me, I admit all!”(1441-1445) Ultimately, Creon is more of a proper tragic character than Antigone because of he has an epiphany, a moment when he realizes his hubris has caused conflicts and deaths in the
In the play, Sophocles examines the nature of Antigone and Creon who have two different views about life, and use those views against one another. Antigone who is depicted as the hero represents the value of family. According to Richard Braun, translator of Sophocles Antigone, Antigone’s public heroism is domestically motivated: “never does [Antigone] give a political explanation of her deed; on the contrary, from the start [Antigone] assumes it is her hereditary duty to bury Polynices, and it is from inherited courage that [Antigone] expects to gain the strength required for the task” (8). Essentially, it is Antigone’s strong perception of family values that drive the instinct to disobey Creon’s orders and to willingly challenge the King’s authority to dictate her role in society.
The hubris resonating throughout the play, ‘Antigone’ is seen in the characters of Creon and Antigone. Their pride causes them to act impulsively, resulting in their individual downfalls. In his opening speech, Creon makes his motives clear, that “no man who is his country’s enemy shall call himself my friend.” This part of his declaration was kept to the letter, as he refused burial for his nephew, Polynices. However, when the situation arises where it is crucial that Creon takes advice, he neglects the part of the speech where he says “a king... unwilling to seek advice is damned.” This results in Creon’s tragic undoing.
Creon showed dramatic irony when he said, “only a crazy man is in love with death” (scene 1 line 60). This shows irony because Creon keeps saying any man who defies him will be punished, but Antigone is the one who goes against him. This shows how Creon is ignorant and how he rushes to conclusions believing that only a man could do this when it was Antigone. This shows Creon as sexist and that he is an ignorant man. Creon showed dramatic irony when he said, “As long as I am king…” (Scene 1 line 49). This shows irony because he was prideful and we knew he would not be king for long. Creon was being prideful and cocky even though he will not be king for much longer. This shows that Creon as a character was very
Many great rulers have been tempted by the authority of absolute power. In Antigone, by Sophocles, Creon, the Theban king, will do anything in order to earn this absolute power. Creon’s prideful attitude, disregard of the authority of the gods, and failure to listen cause him to fail as a statesman, demonstrating the nature of kingship in Sophocles’s Antigone.
Antigone’s strength allows her to defend her brother’s honor against Creon, who wants to make a statement about traitors. However, both Antigone and King Creon commit faults while trying to protect the things they love. Antigone should not have died for her beliefs as it puts her loved ones and community in danger, and Creon should not have forbidden the burial of Polyneices as it angers the Gods and causes him great suffering in the end.
Creon in the play 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. Creon highlighted as the tragic figure, initially created decisions he thought were for the welfare and well-being of Thebes. However, Antigone, who rebelled against Creon’s decisions, caused Creon’s rage to cloud his rational way of thinking.
Sophocles, following the Greek standard of tragedy, casts Creon as the tragic hero plagued by his own pride, inflexibility and power. Creon believes his authority to be twofold, both as the king and as the head of his family. He claims that the throne is the source of all power, saying ?whoever is chosen to govern should be obeyed ? must be obeyed, in all things, great and small, just and unjust? (Sophocles 217), and he demands the utmost allegiance from his son, bidding him to ?subordinate everything else?to [his] father?s will? (Sophocles 216). Creon is filled with hubris, and he rejects any solution that might compromise his image. For instance, when the guards escort Antigone to the palace, he demands of the Choragos, ?Who is the man...
With disrespect comes a multitude of other character qualities, including selfishness. In this case, Creon’s pride was heavily intertwined with his selfishness, and was prominently displayed throughout the play. An example of this is exposed when Haemon attempts to offer advice to Creon, saying that the people of Thebes would like to see Antigone live, for the laws of religion dictated that all men be buried with honor. All Creon does is rebuke his son, saying, “And is Thebes about to tell me how to rule?” (821). Creon’s pride and selfishness shows how he cares only about himself, and that he simply ignores those who do not agree with him or his laws. Another instance of this is uncovered when Creon tells Haemon that he himself will kill Antigone. Even after his son bolts from the room, saying that Creon will never see him again, Creon does nothing. He believes that his self-righteous attitude and laws trumps his family, confirming the idea that he only cares about himself and does not listen to others, all because of his
Creon showed destruction in leadership through the lack of perspective, humanity and personal philosophy. Although he is king, he fail to understand that his power is restricted to a certain level and that the Gods are the ones that have complete authority. He is so self-centered that he talks about how he can break Antigone. To support this he states, No? Believe me, the stiffest stubborn wills fall the hardest; the toughest iron, tempered strong in the white-hot fire, you'll see it crack and shatter first of all (Sophocles 521-538). The story of Creon also reflects the nature of mankind and its natural instincts that drives one to compete and survive. A man’s desire for power is something that has always driven the course of history. Creon thinks that everything he do and say is always correct. For example, Antigone tells him she buried her brother because he was out in the cold and he does not have any sympathy for her. The fact that Creon does not see his faults, many events takes place that are very tough for the
..., this sense of arrogance angers Creon to a point beyond belief. Antigone’s refusal to cooperate causes Creon to go mad with irritation and frustration. Wanting to show his sense of power, he refuses to back down in fear of losing his position. His stubbornness grows stronger as Antigone continues to disobey his commands. Antigone’s strong and steady foundation helps her show defiance. She is able to overcome the opinions of the people and commit to helping her brother regardless of the after effects. She ignores what everyone says and does only as she wants. She is powerful, both physically and mentally, and is successful in her tasks. Antigone matures into a commendable and respectable character in which she depicts her rebelliousness and bravery, pride and tolerance, and sense of moral righteousness to demonstrate fundamental character development in the play.