How Does Antigone Develop The Character Of Creon

Greek tragedian, Sophocles once wrote in the play, Antigone, “all men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.” The play Antigone is a Greek tragedy written in 442 B.C. about the tragic hero, King Creon; he is a man who commits an ‘act of injustice’ against his niece, Antigone. Directly disobeying Creon’s decree, Antigone buries her deceased brother, Polyneices; when Creon finds out, he forgets all reason and sentences her to death. Hence, Sophocles uses Creon, the power-hungry tragic hero and betrayed father, and his foil Haemon, the strong-willed son, to develop the theme that the power of reason is stronger than the desire for control.

Sophocles introduces Haemon

as the strongest foil of Creon using the dialogue of both Haemon and Creon to convey their different views on leadership. When Haemon goes to Creon to cajole him not to kill Ismene and Antigone, Creon starts talking about how “[his] voice is the one voice giving orders in this City!” (596). Sophocles uses Creon’s own speech to describe him as a controlling and power-hungry man who is not easily persuaded to do anything he does not want to do. Creon’s words support that because he is king; his words, and his words alone, should be followed. Creon wants to be in control because he believes that his decisions are final, that his laws should never be disobeyed. Haemon, on the other hand, believes that more than one person should make the laws and the decisions that govern the whole of Thebes: “There are other men / Who can reason, too; and their opinions might be helpful” (546 - 547). Sophocles manipulates Haemon’s interaction with Creon which characterizes Haemon as a ‘conscience’ and a foil of Creon. Haemon is only trying to show Creon common sense, for without the support of the City there would be no King Creon. In his place, there would only be a man who has lost everything due to his need for control and power. However, Haemon’s disloyalty to Creon only leads to his release of pure anger. Haemon’s betrayal and disobedient opinion induces the portrayal of Creon’s broken-hearted anger, thus proving Haemon is Creon’s foil.
Furthermore, Sophocles develops Creon as a tragic hero by conveying Haemon’s motivation to do right under the gods' watchful eyes and Creon’s desire for power and sovereign status.

When Haemon goes to see his father about Antigone’s fate, he explains to Creon how “reason is God’s crowing gift to man [...] / The reasonable thing is to learn from those who can teach” (543 - 582). Sophocles utilizes Haemon’s statement as a juxtaposition of Creon’s decision to kill Antigone. to juxtapose Creon’s opinion that his decision to kill Antigone will serve the greater good. Haemon believes that having reason is the most powerful source of control because that is how he interprets God’s words. Creon is telling Haemon about the punishment law-breakers deserve, when he reminds Haemon that “the man who knows how to obey, and that man only, / Knows how to give commands [...]” (530 - 531). Sophocles applies Creon’s words to show Creon’s need for domination and regulation. According to Creon, the people who disobey him are people that need to be controlled, and those who know obedience are the only ones who can control the wayward citizens of the City. Despite his anger and ignorance, he truly believes that he is making the right choice for the City. Therefore, Haemon and Creon’s differing opinions about law signify that Creon is a tragic hero because he believes that his decisions are the righteous

choice.
Lastly, Sophocles highlights the theme that the power of reason is stronger than the desire for control with the father/son interactions between Haemon, and tragic hero, Creon. The Messenger and Creon have just found Haemon lying with the dead Antigone in her cell: “the tears rushed to [Creon’s] eyes / And he called to him: “What have you done, child?” (964 - 965). Sophocles uses the Messenger’s own words to portray Creon and Haemon’s emotional interaction. The tables have turned and the once rational Haemon has become blinded by the death of his beloved fiance, Antigone, while the once power-driven Creon has become the voice of reason for Haemon. In the midst of seeing his son’s pain, Creon tries to show Haemon reason, but Creon’s attempts are futile and Haemon commits suicide to be with Antigone in death: “My own blind heart has brought me / From darkness to final darkness” (987 - 988). Sophocles manipulates the interactions between Haemon and Creon to further develop the theme and Creon’s character as a tragic hero. Distraught and heartbroken, Creon realizes his mistakes and gains the self-knowledge that without reason there is no semblance of control or order. Thus, Haemon and Creon’s interactions portray that having reason is what gives a ruler their power, but having too much power is what brings the downfall of the ruler and the people around him.
In conclusion, using the contrasting motivations of resolute Haemon and authoritative Creon, Sophocles develops the theme that order and control cannot exist without reason and rationale.

Haemon believes that not just one person should make decisions that affect a whole city. Haemon’s disloyal views of leadership clearly act as a foil to Creon’s need for power. He also believes that Creon is not thinking clearly or reasonably in his actions to condemn Antigone. Those opinions are what lead to Creon’s exhibition of anger and insecurity, thereby beginning to develop Creon as a tragic hero. Creon’s humanity is later revealed when he is forced to watch Haemon pierce a blade through his own heart over Antigone’s dead body. Creon’s anguish represents the misfortune he experiences as a result of his actions, for he has to deal with the fact that the choices he made of free will led to the deaths of his son and his niece. In the end, Creon realizes the mistakes he made and comes to agree that having rational thought when ruling a city is the only way control and order will continue to

stand.