Examples Of Pride In Antigone

"How Zeus hates a proud tongue!"(Antigone 148) In the tragedy Antigone, pride plays a central part in the development of the plot and characters. Pride is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievement. Antigone provides an insight into Greek society, which valued individualism, and pride was viewed as a facet of greatness. However, the Greek philosopher Aristotle discusses pride as a hamartia, or a fatal flaw. Harmatias were an essential component of tragedy, snaring a mostly good character into ruin. In the play Antigone, pride causes death as well as the division of family. Excessive pride causes the downfall of characters in Antigone, as displayed through the two

However, Antigone was too stubborn to heed Ismene's advice. Antigone even implores Ismene to proclaim her forbidden act saying, "No! Go on, tell them all! I will hate you much more for your silence." ( Antigone 103-104) These actions of stubbornness led to her trial and questioning. Antigone embodies the harmatia of pride by deliberately burying her brother Polyneikes, despite Creon's orders. Burying Polyneikes was honorable, but the manner in which Antigone carries out Polyneikes's burial provokes Creon and his laws. This is explained by the Leader of the Theban elders, who states "Your pious conduct might deserve some praise, but no assault on power will ever be tolerated by him who wields it."(Antigone 957-959) She further insults

In his inaugural speech, Creon promises to act upon good advice, create policies that will protect the city of Thebes, and only honor faithful citizens of Thebes. He says, " To me, there is nothing worse than a man, while he's running a city, who fails to act on sound advice." ( Antigone 210-212) However, Creon fails to heed good advice in two instances. He initially disregards his son Haimon, and then, rejects advice from the prophet Tiresias. This is first shown in his discourse with Haimon, where Haimon expresses the importance of the citizens in governing a city, stating "It's not a city if one man owns it."(Antigone 815). Creon believes that his kingship allows him to do as he pleases. He argues this when he asks," Don't we say men in power own their cities?"(Antigone 815) Haimon even recognizes and calls out his father's misuse of power, exclaiming," What I attack is your abuse of power."(Antigone 821) This leads Creon to lash out at his son, and ultimately leads Creon to bury Antigone alive. The second instance where Creon fails to act on sound advice was when Tiresias foretold of misfortune on Thebes because of disrespect for the dead. Creon fails to heed sound judgment a second time, and insults Tiresias, believing that he was paid to change his mind. Tiresias warned Creon that the gods were displeased by his actions, but Creon