Even though pride can be a good thing at times, it is hurtful, it is an emotion that can make or break someone.
“Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” (Manimtim-Proverbs 13:10). In Sophocles, The Three Theban Plays translated by Robert Fagles, advice is one thing both Creon and Oedipus did not want to hear from people. A wise man will make mistake, take advice and learn, but a fool will not, they will let their pride get in the way. When I think of Creon and Oedipus, I think of them as fools; even though they both become king, they still lost something in the end due to their arrogance and excessive pride. Pride can be both negative and positive; when Pride takes over someone’s life, that person becomes arrogant, because that person tends to look down on others. I am not saying that pride is not a good quality to possess, but too much of a good thing can be a burden.
In Antigone, The prophet Tiresias told Creon that “all men make mistakes, it is only human. But once the wrong is done a man can turn his back on folly, misfortune too” (Antigone-lines 1132-1134). All human beings hate being wrong, that is a fact, but it takes a lot for someone to realize and admit it. A lot pride can make one seem very ignorant, even though it may not be intentional. The prophet also told Creon how pride is a crime, but that apparently offended Creon because his response was “ No, Reverend old Tiresias, all men fall, it’s only human, but the wisest fall obscenely when they glorify obscene advice with rhetoric all for their own Gain” (Antigone- lines 1158-1161). Creon had numerous opportunities to realize he had too much pride, and that his pride was hurting himself and others, but he was too blind t...
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...lines 1445-1446). Creon just could not take the guilt anymore, knowing that the cause of their death was his fault, all because of his excessive pride. Pride can be portrayed as confidence, it can bring one great success, but it is a deadly emotion that can also take everything away from one when it exaggerates. When it is too late to fix an issue, the only thing left are regrets of what could have been said or done to prevent the obstacles caused.
Works Cited
Sophocles, Robert Fagles, Bernard MacGregor Walker. Knox, and Sophocles. The Three Theban Plays: Antigone, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus. New York, NY: Penguin, 1987. Print.
Manimtim, Jedley. N.p., n. d. 8 Oct 2013. .
. N.p.. Web. 8 Oct 2013. .
One of Creon’s many failures as a statesman is his prideful attitude. For example, Creon believes that gods chose him to lead the kingdom: “But see, the king comes here, /Creon, the son of Menoeceus, /Whom the gods have appointed for us/In our recent change of fortune.” (Par. 122—125).This quote explains how authoritative Creon was when he first became king. Also, Sophocles explains how Creon’s divine rights made him feel superior to everyone else, which made him more insolent. In addition, Creon believes that he is the sole leader of the kingdom: “We’ll have no woman’s law here, while I live.” (Sc 2.444). Sophocles illustrates the dangers of pride in kingship. He emphasizes more on how kings should be reasonable to the citiz...
Pride is something that is essential in human life. Due to pride, we are able to see the joys
Pride frequently has terrible results. For example, as a result of Brothers pride, he left Doodle in the storm. Brother did this because he is angry that Doodle failed, and that his dream of having an “ordinary brother” is over. Doodle realizes that he failed his brother, and feels useless. In addition, after being left in the downpour, Doodle dies. At the point when Brother discovers Doodle dead, he thinks it’s his fault that Doodle dies because he pushed him too hard. After this happens, their family feels like they should’ve been more protective and love Doodle more. In conclusion, while pride can have devastating effects, it can also result in fulfillment.
Being in power yields the assumption that everything is possible. In Creon’s case, he states that “never, if I can help it, shall evil triumph over good.” Creon’s pride in his position as King skewed his perception of what is just. He opens his Kingship commenting on this very feature of kingship, that “no other touchstone can test the heart of a man” like that of utmost power. Ironically, Creon reaches this touchstone, only to fail, causing many tragic deaths....
A popular teaching of ancient Greek philosophers, was the ideal of “Sophrosyne” (wisdom), which rooted from self-knowledge, or “Know thyself” which was intended to be learned throughout a life time. Self knowledge would eventually lead to wisdom, good judgement, balance, control and harmony. In the play Antigone written by Sophocles we are presented with King Creon who believes he is righteous and blessed with wisdom from the heavens declares a ruling that no traitor of the nation shall receive burial, which goes against divine law. Did Creon make a wise judgement when dictating his new law or was it his pride that got the best out of him, leading him to his downfall.
Sophocles. The Three Theban Plays: Antigone, Oedipus The King, Oedipus At Colonus. Penguin Books. New York, New York. 1982, 1984.
Creon, after he learns of his mistake, intends to correct them. “I and my better judgement / have come round to this-I shackled her, / I’ll set her free myself.” (Sophocles, Antigone, 1234-1235). In comparison to Xerxes, Creon intends to “lay my pride bare to the blows of ruin” (1221). Creon’s reaction when he learns of the death of his niece, son and, and wife was one of intense grief: “herald of pain, more words, more grief? / I died once, you killed me again and again” (1414-1415). In these passages, Creon shows a willingness to have a perpeteia, or a reversal in action. Creon thought he had the authority to govern something only the gods could, and he attempted a perpeteia in this course, but ultimately was too late and was in a state of perpetual grief afterward. The people around Creon also sympathize with him: “for mortal men / there is no escape from the doom we must endure” (1457-1458) In this the leader of the chorus is identifying with Creon, in the acknowledgement of hubris and hamartei, a mistake in judgment, in life. However, a tragic heroes’ perpeteia sets them apart from a tyrant, in that the tyrant will continue to be hubris driven, whereas a tragic hero will have a moment of perpeteia and attempt to repent. The tragic hero will repent to prevent grief in his downfall, whereas a tyrant won’t even have a moment of
Oedipus the King conveys many lessons that are relevant to people living today despite the fact that it was written by Sophocles twenty four centuries ago. Oedipus is a child destined to kill his father and marry his mother. During his life, he makes many mistakes trying to avoid his fate. These mistakes teach us about the nature of humans under certain circumstances. Oedipus possesses personality traits which causes him to make wrong decisions. Attributes like arrogance and his inability to make calm decisions in certain scenarios due to his anger causes his downfall. Oedipus’ excessive pride, like many people today, was an important factor that brought him grief. Oedipus’ lack of patience caused him to make hasty decisions which lead him to his greatest agony. Oedipus’ massive ego turned into excessive vanity, this was the first step to his downfall. Oedipus talks to Creon about the murderer of Laius. He declares, “Then I’ll go back and drag that shadowed past to light… but by myself and for myself I’ll break this plague” (Sophocles, 11). Oedipus is saying that he will be the on...
In the beginning of the play Creon presents a strong confident image, although it becomes apparent self-doubt is present due to his inability to accept a diminished view of himself. Whilst giving the orders to murder anyone who tries to bury Antigone’s brother, Creon refuses the advice of his trusted council because they suggest he may be in the wrong. Creon so harshly yells Stop right there, before I am gorged with rage! (Page 12). The personality trait of being unyieldingly stubborn is one a majority can of people relate to. Therefore the audience might have felt sympathy towards him during that moment. Often the audience relates well to the tragic and can ...
Creon's character possesses an infinite number of glitches in his personality, but his excessive pride was the root of his problems. His pride leads him to make accusations, before he considers the wise advice of others. Creon's pride also fills him not just as a king superior to the Gods, but also a man superior to women. The issue of Antigone being condemned to die becomes more than just a person who disobeys Creon; instead, the punishment is given even more eagerly, because it is a woman who disobeys a man. Creon's intelligent son warns Creon the people of Thebes sympathize with Antigone, but Creon accuses Haemon of being a "woman's slave" (line 756). Even though he is suppose to be loyal to the state and her citizens, he defensively questions if "the town [is] to tell [him] how [he] ought to rule?"(Line 734)The Theban king is too prideful to obey even the wisest of prophets, blind Teresias, insisting that "the whole crew of seers are money-mad" (line 1055). Creon finally puts his pride aside and listens to the Chorus' wise advice. It is difficult even then, and he obeys only because he fears the punishment that he might receive. "To yield [for Creon] is terrible" (line 1095) meaning to swallow his pride and admit that he is wrong is a very difficult thing for him to do. When Creon loses his wife and son, Creon's pride disappears, and he admits that he made a terrible mistake by not listening to anyone's advice.
Wisdom reflects the values and criteria that we apply to our knowledge. Its essence is discernment. Discernment of right from wrong, helpful from harmful, truth from delusion. Being wise is not just being knowledgeable – it is applying that knowledge. Not just making statements – but also asking questions. It is giving but also listening to good advice, and it is learning from one’s mistakes. Also, wisdom and years are not always directly proportional. In Sophocles' “Antigone”, wisdom proves to represent a significant theme throughout the play. Creon, the king of Thebes, initially explains the importance of a ruler's duty of setting the city on its wisest course. However, as the play progresses, Creon fails to live up to his promises, by being irrational and selfish. Sophocles play emphasises how a lack of maturity and wisdom can have adverse effects on society.
The conflict between Antigone and Creon in Sophocles’ Antigone brings to life a battle that we all have within us. Many times it is written that this play portrays a conflict between pride and morality. However, it can also be seen that Antigone isn’t a show of pride versus something else, but pride versus itself. With the two main characters we are shown two different sides of pride, a passionate pride and an authoritative pride. The pride of the characters ultimately leads to their deaths. Reading this play from the surface level, it, along with many other works can cause one to say that pride is an all around negative characteristic, but pride is much more two-faced than that, being both beneficial and destructive. Some may be quick to argue that pride is evil and deadly, but it could also be argued that it is the exact opposite. It all depends on how it is used and to what extent it is being used. The goal of this paper is to use the conflict between Antigone and Creon to examine the two types of destructive pride and discuss how pride, when used in a right way, is absolutely essential to who we are as humans.
Sophocles, following the Greek standard of tragedy, casts Creon as the tragic hero plagued by his own pride, inflexibility and power. Creon believes his authority to be twofold, both as the king and as the head of his family. He claims that the throne is the source of all power, saying ?whoever is chosen to govern should be obeyed ? must be obeyed, in all things, great and small, just and unjust? (Sophocles 217), and he demands the utmost allegiance from his son, bidding him to ?subordinate everything else?to [his] father?s will? (Sophocles 216). Creon is filled with hubris, and he rejects any solution that might compromise his image. For instance, when the guards escort Antigone to the palace, he demands of the Choragos, ?Who is the man...
In 1297AD, pride was described as “A consciousness or feeling of what is befitting or due to oneself or one's position, which prevents a person from doing what he considers to be beneath him or unworthy of him; esp. as a good quality, legitimate, ‘honest’, or ‘proper pride’, self-respect; also as a mistaken or misapplied feeling, ‘false pride’” (OED 4). This type of pride is personal pride and the image a person must maintain to keep it. A person cannot allow them self to act in such a way that would be demeaning. An example of this would be a drill sergeant getting down with his recruits and performing the same demeaning drills as they are. The sergeant’s years of hard work and service would not be taken seriously if he were to lower himself to the level of their recruits therefore lowering his sense of pride.