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In the play Antigone, Sophocles tells the story of the titular character as she buries her traitorous brother in defiance of a tyrannical despot. Through this action, the play asks the question of whether the laws created by one man “could override the gods, the great unwritten, unshakable traditions,” (504-5). Some may argue that Creon's decree is merely one of necessity, an unavoidable evil to allow the city of Thebes to heal and unite. He is a patriot holding his city together in times of strife. While Creon may believe this, saying "our country is our safety" (211), it is actually his lack of love that causes him to deny Polynices his burial. Love is the ultimate natural law, thus proving Antigone's right to disobey the unjust decree. Antigone …show more content…

When the Chorus Leader claims “only a fool could be in love with death,” (246), referring to Antigone, Creon immediately ignore that idea. He instead latches onto corruption saying that “the mere hope of money has ruined many men,” (248). He later continues with this line of thought into a large monologue calling money “so current, rampant, so corrupting” (336) and blaming riches for “every godless crime,” (341). His first thought is of corruption and bribery because that is what would compel him to disobey man’s laws. He has no love in his heart like Antigone. His one goal is power. When he ascends to the Theban throne he focuses on his people’s “undeviating respect for the throne and royal power” (184-5) and that now he possess “the throne and all its powers” (193). His constant refrain of power reveals his motivation. He has such patriotism for his country, not out of love for his people or his city, but for the power it grants him. He says: “whoever places a friend above the good of his own country...is nothing,” (204-5). He has no love for others, only love for what can give him more power, gold and governmental …show more content…

The chorus tells how “not even the deathless gods can flee [love’s] onset” (884) and that love is “throned in power, side-by-side with the mighty laws” (892). Love is a power older than the gods and as mighty as the natural laws which govern our universe. To fight it would be futile for, love is “never conquered in battle” (879) and of this conflict it will “alone be the victor” (890). Creon is attempting to fight love, to fight Antigone and her overwhelming need to bury her brother. Love existed long before Creon was born, before the city of Thebes was even built, and it will exist long after Creon dies and Thebes

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Examples Of Creon's Decree In Antigone

301 Words | 2 Pages

I used this quote from Antigone because it properly states Antigone’s viewpoint on Creon’s decree. As told in the story, Creon's decree was that no one could grieve for or bury Polyneices. Creon made this proclamation because when Eteocles and Polyneices fought over Thebes, Eteocles was pronounced king and exiled Polyneices from Thebes. Polyneices, in turn, formed an army to take on the city, ending up with Eteocles and Polyneices killing each other, thus putting Creon in the position of power. Creon then proceeds to label Polyneices a traitor and finally, makes his decree.

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Creon's Passion In Antigone

962 Words | 4 Pages

In Sophocles’ Antigone, the protagonist, Antigone, possesses the characteristic flaw of blind passion. Antigone tells the tragedy of a recalcitrant woman’s agony due to a new edict declared by the ruling power of the state, King Creon. The young woman, Antigone, wants to bury her brother, Polynices, but Creon’s edict announces that anyone who does so will be punished in death. Antigone rebels against the law of the state because she is assertive in her decision to bury her brother in order to honour the gods and maintain family loyalty. She courageously decides to act upon her free will and is prepared to face the consequence of death that proceeds.

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Creon's Stubbornness In Antigone

242 Words | 1 Pages

Most conflict happens between family members and in this story, Creon and Antigone are ending it. Creon is the leader and he knows that he should not have to feel pity for the people nor listen to them if he does not want to. This should exclude

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Creon's Flaws In Antigone

195 Words | 1 Pages

In the short story titled “Antigone,” the author portrays Creon as a tragic hero by displaying flaws in Creon's character shown throughout the story. Creon’s character contains many flaws which lead to many problems. His decisions end up deciding the fates of his son, his wife, and Antigone. Creon finally realizes that what he has done is sinful to the gods. He has put his own pride over the appreciation of the gods.

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Is Creon Justified In Antigone

740 Words | 3 Pages

In Sophocles Antigone it states “; but his brother Polyneices, who broke his exile to come back with fire and sword against his native city”. This shows that Creon decided that his actions were for the best for his people. This shows that Creon was trying to be justified by doing what's right for his people and not letting personal ties disrupt what's right. Antigone is justified in her own way because she is trying to bury her brother because she feels since he is dead he deserves to be out in peace. Antigone stated that her brother deserves a burial just like anybody else because he also fought.

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Creon Loyalty In Antigone

694 Words | 3 Pages

Creon Sophocle’s play Antigone suggests that a good leader should provide loyalty and trust, and through actions Creon, shows many reasons to be a loyal character in the play, Creon has good rational reasons for his laws and punishments that he believes that will help him as a king. Even though Creon has a hard time listening to anyone, which makes him stubborn and his pride to increase he is actually doing something that can help his people, Creon and the citizens of Thebes respect the law, which shows loyalty to the state. In the play Creon states “ For me, a man who rules the entire state and does not take the best advise there is, but through fear keeps his mouth forever shut, such man is the worst of men- and always

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Examples Of Tragic Hero In Creon

734 Words | 3 Pages

(Antigone 8). This quote shows that he wants everyone to obey him and anyone who disobeys him will get in trouble. The last support can be found when Creon said, “But he who crosses law, or forces it, or hopes to bring the ruler under him, shall never have a word of praise from me.” (Antigone 23). This means that Creon is “madly in love” with his power and thinks that he can do anything because he is the king.

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Creon's Destruction In Sophocles Antigone

1391 Words | 6 Pages

Fate has brought all my pride to a thought of dust”(Sophocles 1.5 142-146). Creon’s destruction resulted because of his misdeeds in having too much pride. His pride and his personal instability were the worst combination of possible qualities he could have. Creon’s past sins have built up and eventually burst and gave this man the worst punishment of all the characters in the play. In Antigone by Sophocles, Creon displayed many failing qualities as a king; most notably having displayed a giant ego by not accepting help from others, which warns the audience of the dangers

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Creon's Idea Of Justice In Antigone

868 Words | 4 Pages

This is wrong. Creon’s way of law is proven wrong, because when Polynices dies, he does not want to bury him, which leads to Antigone hanging herself, and many more who commit suicide because of his decisions. Instead of accepting kingship as a responsibility for the entire kingdom of Thebes, Creon creates big

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Creon's Tragic Flaw In Antigone

1226 Words | 5 Pages

His free choice is represented by a quote from the guard surveying Polyneices body, “We saw this girl giving that dead man's corpse full burial rites—an act you’d made illegal” (337). Although Creon's own niece turns out to be the one that went against his word, he still chooses to follow through with the punishment even though the deed Antigone did was morally right. The punishment that he lays upon Antigone is excessive and unjust considering the crime. While in an argument with her, he calls to his guards proclaiming, “Take her and shut her up, as I have ordered, in her tomb’s embrace [...]

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Antigone: Creon As A Tragic Hero

1234 Words | 5 Pages

Creon believes that whatever he says or decide is true, he has so much of self-righteousness. The word that Creon said “Am I to rule by other mind than mine?” (Antigone, page 26). He thinks that he should rule everything because he is a king, he believes that people should obey him and the law he sets because he thinks that it is the right thing to do. Creon does not want other people to tell him what to do.

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Creon's Courage In Antigone

791 Words | 4 Pages

“My last sight of the sun, then never gain to the shore of the river underground. Not for me was the marriage hymn, nor will anyone start the song at a wedding of mine. A cheron is my bridegroom” (lines 806-815). Antigone imagens death as marriage. She thinks this because Creon makes Antigone marry Haemon, Creon’s brother but she refuses.

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Creon's Core Values In Antigone

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Antigone’s first core value is that she believes in putting her family first. This core value influences her decision that leads to her attempting

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Antigone Quotes About Creon's Downfall

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In the play Antigone, by Sophocles, Creon’s deadly stubbornness and selfishness in ignoring the pleas and

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Creon Speech In Antigone

703 Words | 3 Pages

In Antigone by Sophocles, the purpose of Creon’s speech is to explain his new leadership. First, Creon wants to gain the loyalty from the citizens of Thebes. A great king would first need the trust of his state in order to rule effectively. Especially, Creon would need trust from his state after the tragic events that happened beforehand, which was Polyneices and Eteocles dying. He state this fact in his speech: “I am aware, of course, that no ruler can expect complete loyalty from his subjects until he has been tested in office.”

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