How Does Creon Change In Antigone

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Character Evolution: From Power to Tragedy In Sophocles' tragedy Antigone, Sophocles explores the importance of listening to others as well as the importance of having the ability to compromise. In the beginning of the play, Creon is an aspiring leader wanting to protect Thebes. Through his interactions with the Chorus, Creon’s personality changes from the original good intentioned leader to a stubborn ruler with close minded ideas; refusing to listen to the advice of others. However, at the end of the play he learns to embrace the advice of others at the cost of his entire family dying. Creon’s character is a good-willed aspiring leader, through his interactions with the Chorus and Haemon. His character shows his transformation into a close …show more content…

Despite just moments ago, the Creon who stated the Chorus' words were not only valuable but something he would take into consideration, he now dismisses. When the Chorus suggests an idea that Creon himself does not believe nor agree with, he abuses his power and makes his words the final decision; as if he were a tyrant. The interaction illustrates his change from a good-willed leader, to a dictator. During the final acts of the play, Creon is faced with an alarming amount of karma that has built up through all the decisions he had made. He learns through a prophet that something was amiss and will lead to Thebes and his own suffering. After mourning the loss of his son, Haemon, he finally accepts the reason that the reason he died was his own fault. The Chorus stands by Creon as a witness acknowledging, “[he] learned to see what’s right-- but far too late” (1457-1458). After the death of his family, Creon is devastated, finally realizing the significance of ignoring other people's warnings and …show more content…

Creon dismisses Haemon’s concerns, accusing him of being young and inexperienced, rather than acknowledging the validity of Haemon’s arguments. Creon belittles his perspective and rejects the advice that Haemon attempts to reason with him. Creon increasingly becomes hostile and defensive, refusing the compromise that Haemon proposed moments earlier. However, during the final moments with his son, he realizes what he has taken for granted. The last moment he shared with his son was when Haemon was trying to kill him. Haemon's murder attempt fails and then goes to the side of his bride and perishes. During this time, Creon has to witness the death of his son, knowing that his son died in mourning of his bride and with anger he has for his father. Once confronted with the devastation of his son's death he cries, “Alas, my son, you died so young-/ a death before your time/. you’re dead, gone/ not your own foolishness but mine” (1453-1456). Through Haemon’s death, Creon is faced with the consequences of his stubbornness, pride, and refusal to listen to

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