The Downfall Of Creon In Sophocles Antigone

Just like Antigone, Creon in Sophocles’ Antigone also comes into acquaintance with pride and similarly experiences a downfall thus revealing a message about himself and his weaknesses. In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Creon’s character initially starts as a humble person who has little interest in status and power. Eventually, when Creon tastes the benefits of power and the controlling enjoyment it brings, pride begins to creep in and encircles him with selfish desires. After the death of Antigone’s brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles, Creon rises to power and begins his prideful actions by recreating the land of Thebes. By creating laws that allow him to counteract the gods’ laws, he becomes prideful and views himself as the one responsible to lead his kingdom to success.

Additionally, as Creon focus on his laws to make his kingdom regain stability after all its leaders have left, Creon continuously builds his pride by ignoring other people’s advice as well as denying them.

One example is when Creon ignores his son’s, Haemon, warnings against the dangers of his action and says to Haemon “you’ll pay- / taunting, insulting me! Bring her out, / that hateful-she’ll die now, here, / in front of his eyes, beside her groom!” (Sophocles 851-854). With Creon’s decision to kill Antigone, it causes a chain of death; first starting with Haemon’s death, followed by the death of Creon’s wife, Eurydice, and finally ending with Antigone’s death. Even so, Creon still takes pride over his decision and condemns those who defy his laws. At this point, Creon creates his own downfall and displays himself as a cruel person without mercy. By stating “Go down below and love, / if love you must-love the

dead! While I’m alive, / no woman is going to lord it over me”, Creon not only tells Antigone that she has no power over him but also indicates that his prideful power has transformed him into a haughty person (Sophocles 592-594). Although the people in Thebes obey his laws out of fear for this cruelty, his leadership and pride do not last long. Instead, it causes the people in Thebes and his family to abandoned him leaving Creon alone. Towards the end of Sophocles’ Antigone, Creon not only loses his power but he is also left to mourn the death of his family and friends, experiencing suffering and a tragic downfall. In the midst of his downfall and the loss of pride, Creon reveals to himself a lesson to be receptive to opposing viewpoints and to listen to the advice from people around him.