How Does Creon Change In Antigone

Creon of Sophocles’s Antigone, ruler of Thebes, and uncle of Antigone has a decision, to follow his emotion and divine law or the civil law. Creon is a vigorous character, who quickly changes from the stereotypical strict ruler to feeling more compassion toward his niece, Antigone. Creon rejects Antigone for her request of the burial of her brother, Polynices, which then causes a chain of reaction spinning downwards, beginning from Antigone breaking the law to the death of three family members.

Creon is the new king of Thebes since both previous rulers, Eteocles and Polynices, were killed in combat. In being new to the throne, Creon wants everyone to keep the laws and under no situations breaks them as he says, "Am I wrong to protect my own

Creon is mad enough that someone disobeyed the law, but a women is too much of a reach for him. Creon believes that if there were not to be a punishment, it would be as if Antigone ruled the land and not Creon himself. In the eyes of Creon, women if Antigone goes free she will be the man, as he says “I am not the man, no now: she is the man/if this victory goes to her and she goes free” (541-42). As we see, Creon is even more angry that a women disobeyed the law, and that a women is in charge of the men. At first, Creon believes that someone broke the law only for money, because why would someone risk their lives if it weren’t for money. At first Creon accused the sentry of burying Polynices, and doing it for money, as Creon says “Yes you did/what’s more, you squandered your life for silver!”

At first, Creon reacts to the prophet’s cautions by accusing Tiresias of taking bribes and only doing this for money. Creon at the end understood his mistakes and decided that he will change and will unshackle Antigone himself, and he says, “I and my better judgment/ have come round to this- I shackled her,/I’ll set her free myself.” (1234-236). Creon realized the divine law which Tiresias represented is most important that civil law. Even though Creon changed, he was to late. Eurydice, Creon’s wife stabbed herself in the heart when she learned the terrible outcome of her son, Haemon. He committed suicide after seeing his fiancé, Antigone’s, dead body hang in the tomb. Creon understood that it was his actions that caused the death of three of his family member’s as he says, “ Ai, dead lost to the world, not through your stupidity, no, my own.”