Haemon is the son of Creon and the bridegrooms of Antigone. After Creon has made the decision to kill Antigone he brought in his son Haemon to hear his opinion because she is supposed to be marrying him. Creon tells his son ,“Son do not let your lust mislead your mind, all for a woman’s sake, for well you know how cold the thing he takes into his arms who has a wicked woman for a wife.” Although this may be true to Creon because Antigone disobeyed his law she always had the best of intentions at heart for her family which shows she would make a wonderful wife. Haemon responded, “But in dark corners I have heard them say how the whole town is grieving for this girl, unjustly doomed, if ever woman was, to die in shame for glorious action done.
Through Haemon's contrasting words, actions, and ideas, Creon's character develops into a tragic hero. Creon is a person of noble stature and also has a tragic flaw of unreasonableness; which are two characteristics of a tragic hero. He is unwilling to listen to anyone's opinion except his. Haemon explains “when men speak well, it good to learn from them.” (line 819) This was a response
SECOND MESSENGER “Hearing the loud lament above her son With her own hand she stabbed herself to the heart.” (1316-1317) When King Creon imprisons Antigone, it leads to her self inflicted death. When Haemon, Antigone’s fiancee, finds her dead, it influences him to kill himself. When the news of Haemon’s death gets to Eurydice, Creon’s wife and Haemon’s mother, she kills herself. In the Greek play, Antigone, by Sophocles, Creon is a complex character that brings suffering to others by imprisoning Antigone, killing Haemon’s fiancée which results in Haemon killing himself, this chain continues when Haemon’s mother, Creon’s wife, kills herself; this showcases some of the tragedies that play out in Antigone.
Haemon makes a point of this by saying, “The people here in Thebes all say the same – they deny she is (Lines 834-835). " This confirms Creon’s status as a tragic hero when he disagrees with his people's opinion on what has happened to Antigone, which causes him to step even closer to his ultimate demise. This is key because Creon shows how his ego comes before his people as Haemon stresses, which explains how his hubris, the emotion called stubbornness will contribute to his downfall. Additional way Haemon shows Creon as a tragic hero is by highlighting how his tragic flaws are not just angering humans, but the god's that their society revolves around. Haemon shows this by saying, “You're not honoring that by trampling on the god’s prerogatives (Lines 850-851).
After being locked up in a dark, damp cave, Antigone was fed up with wallowing in her own pity, and takes her own life by “hang[ing] by the neck in a fine linen noose, strangled in her veils,” (1347–1348). Seeing the graceful young woman embraced in the arms of his own son, Creon immediately swells with anger towards un-masculine Haemon because of his display of love, and the significance of Antigone’s death goes straight over his head. Her strong sense of self – knowing who she is, what she values, and what makes her happy – enables her to make regretless decisions that alter her time to come. One of those decisions instigated Haemon’s fate to be sealed as well, prompting Eurydice, mother of the prince, to join her son in the underworld. Not long after becoming aware of her child’s downfall, Eurydice sacrifices her life at the heart of the palace, and “raised a cry for the noble fate of Megareus, the hero killed in the first assault, then for Haemon, then with her dying breath she called down torments on [Creon’s] head–[Creon] killed her sons,” (1429–1432). Creon’s heart fills with grief, for the fault of these three deaths lies with him, and pathetic self-pities are the only thoughts running through his mind. Despite the three-deceased’s blood lying
Sophocles describes the father-son relationship in Antigone as extremely prejudiced, demonstrated by the difference in observed power of the Creon and Haemon, respectively the king and his son. During the argument between the pair on the punishment of Antigone, Haemon states “I am your son, sir; by your wise decisions/My life is ruled”. Initially, he believes that he is completely inferior to his father, and he states that “there is nothing I can prize above your happiness and wellbeing”. His disposition throughout their conversation is always underlying, and initially he is unable to stand up to his father’s demands. Creon is absolutely non-tolerant to his son, initially praising Haemon as “the man/You can depend on”. However, as Haemon begins to voice his individual opinion, Creon begins to feel insulted and tells his own son that he is a “despicable coward”. At the conclusion of the argument, the hidden rebellious nature of Haemon has surfaced, and he threatens his father, tell...
Creon required the support of the Chorus of Theban elders, and for his verdict considering what to do with Polyneices' body. When Creon came to know of Antigone’s plan he called for her and when she did not deny of the fact that she buried her dishonorable brother’s body he grew angry and assumed Ismene her younger sister had helped her. Ismene being the good sister that she is lied and said she had helped Antigone, after that Creon ordered for them to be locked up. Haemon, Creon's son and Antigone's fiancé, promised to be loyal to his father and not talk to Antigone but he tried his best to persuade his father to spare her life, but they end...
Third, Antigone is a wonderful example of a martyr. Her legacy will live on, and inspire many other rebels to stand up for their beliefs. Antigone dared to defy the King’s threat of death to bury her brother, and shows true family pride. The people take pity on Antigone, and feel that she should be let alone. Haemon, Creon's son and Antigone's betrothed, states how the people of Thebes feel. “On every side I hear voices of pity for this poor girl doomed to the cruelest death…for an honorable action-burying a brother who was killed in battle…has she not rather earned a crown of gold” (
Creon believes that he has the upper hand when it comes on making major decisions. When Creon commands some of the guards to take Ismene and Antigone away, “You, there, take them away and guard them well:For they are but women, and even brave men run When they seen Death coming”(1039,L164,S2.) This is the beginning of Creon’s error in judgement. He believes that Antigone is the enemy of Thebes because she is going against his authority, but in reality he is the enemy by making false judgement. The next example of Creon being doomed to make a serious error in judgement is when Creon discusses the plans for Antigone’s fate with Choragus after Haemon leaves, “I will carry her far away, Out there in the wilderness , and lock her Living in a vault of stone. She shall have food, As the custom is, to absolve the state of her death(1045,S3L142.) This is another starting point on the error of Creon’s judgment by adding Haemon into this conflict. Haemon tries his best to protect Antigone from Creon, but still fails because her imprisonment leads to her and Haemon’s death. This event not only kills Antigone and Haemon, but also Eurydice his wife. Creon’s decision in the story causes him to make a serious error in
First family is a big part the play. Antigone thinks it is her duty is bury her older brother Polynices, who became a traitor this the kingdom. However Antigone Uncle Creon commanded no one to bury Polynices. After Antigone was caught trying to bury her brother the guards bought her to her uncle, and her uncle tried to help her and not kill her at first. When Antigone says she will bury him again if he lets her go Creon thinks he has no choice, but to put her to death. Even though Creon tried to help Antigone his son; Haemon did not understand why he was doing that to her. Creon had to make a choice in this story between his family and his job, his choice has his job. In the result of that he had lost his niece, son, and wife all of them taking their own lives.
He anxiously awaits the day when he can call Antigone his wife, but because she defies King Creon, she deprives him of that opportunity. At first, Haemon tries to be loyal to his father. He tells Creon that he supports his decision to execute Antigone. However, as the conversation continues, he reveals that the community members are starting to renounce Creon’s decision. As the pain of potentially losing his fiancé becomes too much, he also renounces his father’s decision, arguing that the Gods would not condone it. In an act against his father, Haemon hurries to the cave Antigone was exiled to, in hopes to save her, but instead finds her hanging from the veil she was supposed to wear on her wedding day. Instantly overwhelmed with grief, Haemon, “[bewails] the loss of his bride” (Sophocles 152). Similarly, to Ismene’s case, Haemon cannot picture himself living on Earth without Antigone by his side, and commits suicide. In Antigone’s desire to appease the Gods, she abandons her loved ones, and causes them great suffering. This could have been avoided has she not pursued her desire to bury
Antigone was caught and death was the price to pay as ordered by Creon, not to her surprise. Death to Antigone seemed wanted, it was the only thing left as honor for her. Haemon, the son of Creon and Antigone’s fiancé has enough respect for his father that he does not interfere with Creon's decision to put Antigone to death.
Gender and power intersect in shaping the tragedy of Sophocles’ Antigone. Despite Creon’s edict that Polyneices should be left to rot in the battlefield for being a traitor, Antigone defies the rule of man to obey the rule of the gods and her obligation as kin, as she properly buries her brother. Creon and Antigone can be both argued as tragic heroes, but the focus dwells on the King of Thebes. A line has been specifically selected to explain why he is a tragic hero. The context of the line is that Haemon pledges allegiance to his father, who criticizes women, in general, but attacks Antigone, in specific. Creon is a tragic hero because of the irony of his sexism, where he blames Antigone and women for anarchy, ruining the kingdom and homes,
In the end of the play Creon says, " Nobody else to share the blame. Just me... I killed you. I killed you my dear.Love is what had gotten Antigone in this problem. Her love for her brother was so great that she sacrificed her life for the respect that his deserved. Haemon's love for Antigone had made him kill himself when he found her dead body.
As Creon’s son and a prince as well as the future head of state Haemon has more influence than most. Haemon’s authority is tempered with love or which is another way of describing justice. Haemon’s engagement to Antigone was political as most were in Ancient Athens but their suicides are inevitable because their marriage would metaphorically bring together two thing which cannot exist in the Polis, opposition to the state and justice. The irrationality of Antigone and Creon opposition drawls Haemon into their battle subsequently leaving most of the cast, including Haemon’s mother deceased at the end. There is one Character that survives, Antigone’s sister Ismene. Sophocles’ brilliance is embodied in this character. Ismene who is largely ignored and rightfully so as that is her strength is the only family member to reamin. Sophocles uses opposing dyads to show contrasting views concerning political, social, and gender
Along with disliking others and their actions or opinions he also dislikes their feelings as well, in particular his son’s feelings. Haemon, Creon’s son is engaged to Antigone and can not wait to marry her, until he hears the news of her being put to a slow hard death, by herself, in a cave blocked off by rocks. Haemon tries and tries to make his father change his mind about killing Antigone, and letting him marry his love, but he can not change his father’s cold and evil