Kreon Themes In Antigone

1144 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay about greek politics

[M]y explicit orders concerning/It’s Kreon. The way he’s treated our brothers. Oedipus’ sons: Eteokles, who died/Hasn’t he buried one with honor? fighting for our city, […] will be given the rituals/But he’s shamed the other. Disgraced him! and burial proper to the noble dead./Eteokles, they say, was laid to rest But his brother—I mean Polyneikes, who/according to law and custom. returned from exile utterly determined/The dead will respect him in Hades. to burn down his city, […] revel in kinsmen’s blood,/But Polyneikes’ sorry body can’t be touched. enslave everyone left alive—/The city is forbidden to mourn him or bury him […]. as for him, it is now a crime for Thebans/That’s the clear order our good general to bury him or mourn him./gives …show more content…

One on side is Antigone, representing piety and faithfulness to the gods and their traditions; on the other side is Kreon, representing human authority and faithfulness to mortal law and its traditions. Contributing to the piety, human authority tensions are the personal and legal views of Antigone and Kreon, among other figures in the …show more content…

They don’t. (313-320) He uses his own perspective to twist the common view of piety for his own uses. Not only that, but he even states that “Zeus enforces his own will through mine” (335). Kreon places his own personal views onto the gods themselves, contributing to a trend that continues to this day. Part of the tension introduced by the concept of piety is the conflict between the rule of the gods and the rule of human law. Antigone, again, represents the rule of the gods, while Kreon represents the rule of human law. Each of them believe in the primacy of their own law perspective over the other. Antigone believes in the gods’ authority above all else. She believes in the rituals that satisfy the gods, and that it does not matter who or what the person was prior to his or her death, but that “Hades will still expect his rituals” (563). She appears to believe that one person’s successes or failings in honoring the gods affects everyone, not just those in question, which explains her actions. In valuing the gods’ authority over humanity’s, Antigone completely rejects Kreon’s authority as a king: I deny that your edicts—since you, a mere man, imposed them—have the force to trample

Show More
Related

  • Divine Authority In Antigone

    798 Words  | 2 Pages

    The main conflict in the story Antigone is between the king of Thebes, also the antagonist, Creon and Antigone the Protagonist. When Antigone's brother dies in war Creon does not want to bury him, But Antigone feels its her brothers rights bestowed on him buy the gods to be able to be buried and that it would be disrespectful not to. For example in scene one page two Creon says "He’ll be left unburied, his body there for birds and dogs to eat, a clear reminder of his shameful fate.That’s my decision." As you can see here Creon thinks he has the authority and makes the laws about what is going to happen but really that is divine authority. Another example is in scene two page three when Creon is interrogating Antigone, Antigone says "Yes. Zeus did not announce those laws to me. And Justice living with the gods below sent no

    Read More

  • Oikos and polis

    1207 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Sophocles' Antigone, the dilemma between nomos of the city and nomos of the home divides blood relatives and causes an inevitable conflict. Kreon, Thebes’ ruler, supports nomos of the states and honors polis before oikos. In contrast, Antigone promotes blood ties of oikos and divine laws that govern the dead. Kreon punishes Antigone for carrying out her duty to Polyneikes, and in doing so, he presents a different perspective and reversed order of priorities. In Antigone, polis and oikos depend on one another and share a symbiotic relationship. Since both are unstable, they cannot exist by themselves without problems. This, in turn with Kreon's stubbornness, leads to an untenable encounter.

    Read More

  • Essay On Antigone Vs Human Law

    898 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ever since the beginning of days, people have pondered the question of whether or not any gods exist and if they do, are they in control? In Sophocles’ Antigone, the reader is introduced to two opposing characters: Antigone and Creon. Creon, the king of Thebes, decrees that Polynices, who led an army against Thebes, is a traitor and therefore may not be buried. Antigone, a strong and persistent woman, disagrees with Creon’s decision to deny Polynices a proper burial and is determined to bury him, disregarding Creon’s ruling. As the monarch, Creon represents human law and the power of kings, while Antigone represents divine law and the belief that the gods are in control and will punish anyone who defies them. At the conclusion of the play, both characters’ futures are doomed, but the original question of is was correct still remains.

    Read More

  • confant Pride and Conflict of Law in Sophocles' Antigone

    981 Words  | 2 Pages

    Antigone holds her love of family, and respect to the dead, elevated beyond the laws of Creon, whom she believes, has no righteous justification to close his eyes to the honor of the deceased. In her determination to fulfill Polynices' rights, she runs directly into Creon's attempts to re-establish order. This leads to encounters of severe conflict between the dissimilarities of the two, creating a situation whereby both Creon and Antigone expose their stubbornness and self will.

    Read More

  • Antigone’s Judicial Hierarchy

    1829 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Antigone, one of the most renowned Greek tragedies, Sophocles constructs a conflict that questions the very definition of justice. Considering a play based almost entirely on the acts of a single individual in clear defiance of a king’s decree, questions of right and wrong necessarily persist. It is difficult, however, for one to understand justice in deciphering the opinions of the two conflicting parties, Creon and Antigone, as these two clearly have opposing biased perspectives. It becomes prudent to examine the concept of justice in the eyes of the chorus, who has the necessary perspective to provide unbiased commentary in Antigone. Throughout Antigone, the chorus constructs a judicial hierarchy in which the subjects of the polis must submit to the laws of their king, and the king must fulfill his obligations according to the universal law established by the gods.

    Read More

  • How Does Kreon Take His Burial At Thebes

    591 Words  | 2 Pages

    Kreon states throughout that his decision to not give Polyneices a proper burial stems from the politically contentious uprising Polyneices begun once he initiated a civil war in Thebes against the king, his brother. Therefore, this could be regarded as an event that was particularly scandalous. Eteokles, breaking his pact with his brother, was unwilling in giving up the throne of Thebes. The civil war that sparked up as a response to this incident caused great havoc not only in the kingdom, but also in the

    Read More

  • Antigone Summary

    780 Words  | 2 Pages

    Antigone was dejected with Creon’s ruling and decided to bury Polynices herself. She tried to enlist Ismene to help her, but Ismene was to afraid. Antigone furiously continued with the plan on her own. A sentry discovered Antigone and brought her to Creon. Ismene was also brought to Creon and confessed that she had helped Antigone with the burial rites of Polynices. Antigone stopped Ismene and told her not to admit to an act that she had not committed. Antigone took sole responsibility for the burial and claimed that Creon had no right to forbid the burial of Polynices. Ismene pleaded with Creon to spare Antigone’s life for the sake of Haemon, Creon’s son.

    Read More

  • Antigone And Kreon Foil Analysis

    711 Words  | 2 Pages

    Antigone definitely values the gods over men because she wanted to honor her brother because of family duty and respect to the traditions of the gods. She disregarded the human opinion of Kreon in favor of the gods. As she once stated to Kreon “I didn’t suppose your decree had strength enough, or you, who are human, to violate the lawful traditions the gods have not written merely, but made infallible.” (Lines 555-558) Sophocles inclusion of this statement would certainly give credit to Antigone’s side considering the people of the time valued the traditions of the gods highly and would disagree with those who opposed it. Kreon often disregarded the rules of the gods or their warnings. Aside from originally violating the traditions of the gods with his dishonoring Polyneices’ body, he also tried to ignore Teirsias’ prophetic warnings and accused him of being bribed until Koryphaios also said he should follow Teirsias’ advice. However, even when he did listen to him, he incorrectly followed his plan and his son died because of his mistakes. In the end Antigone was dead and Kreon was alive, yet Kreon was miserable because his last son and his wife died because of him while Antigone died bravely and willingly because she believed she would be rewarded after death. Kreon’s disregard for much of the gods’ warnings and traditions was displayed much more negatively than Antigone who

    Read More

  • Leadership In Antigone And Oedipus The King

    1915 Words  | 4 Pages

    Antigone’s opinions are distinctive as she clearly states her beliefs to Creon after being caught for performing her brother’s burial rituals. Antigone strongly believes that law has no validity when laid by a human as she questions Creon saying, “What laws? I never heard it was Zeus who made that announcement” (Antigone 450). This quote shows her reliance on the Gods for moral direction instead of the kings who reign over her. Although she disregards the law, she also accepts punishment; Antigone is able to follow her opinions and independently rule herself, yet also recognize the societal expectations of law and accept punishment. When being taken by Creon with her sister Antigone takes the responsibility of the crime all herself and recognizes what she did despite not being ashamed of it. One of the main views of Antigone that causes her disobedience is the belief that rulers should not keep loved ones from each other. Antigone clearly states, “He has no right to keep me from my own” this shows how she believes the connection between family overpowers that of a law passed by a vengeful king (Antigone 48). Antigone’s opinions contrast to those of Creon who is a gender biased ruler who sees women as lesser as he states “I will not be ruled by a woman” (Antigone 24). This shows his belief in who is credible within law. Not only does he have opinions on who

    Read More

  • Stand Up For Your Beliefs

    966 Words  | 2 Pages

    Kreon believes that Antigone’s crime is severe, and righteousness should be used to justify her crime. At this point of the play, Antigone realizes she will be put to death, but she does not regret her act of loyalty. In Antigone’s last speech before she takes her own life, she exclaims, “Land of Thebes, city of my fathers… see what I suffer at my mother’s brother’s hand for an act of loyalty and devotion” (Sophocles 57). Here, Antigone addresses the nation’s leaders and declares that they should notice th... ... middle of paper ... ...

    Read More

  • Kreon's Responsibility In Sophocles Antigone

    1090 Words  | 3 Pages

    She is fearless and takes full responsibility for her actions by stating that “I didn't say yes. I can say no to anything I say vile, and I don't have to count the cost. But because you said yes, all that you can do, for all your crown and your trappings, and your guards—all that your can do is to have me killed.”(Lines 45-50) Antigone is honest, and when Ismene states that “I did the deed, if she agrees I did. I am accessory and share the blame” (Page 19 lines 5-7). Antigone refuses to let her sister her share the blame when she responds by saying, “Justice will not allow this. You did not wish for a part, nor did I give you one” (Page 19 lines 10-12). Antigone’s lack of remorse in what she had done, may be a factor in the harshness of her punishment from Kreon. Had Antigone shown remorse, she may have received a second chance at life. Antigone failed to realize that if she died, and Ismene did not bury Polynices, her brother’s soul would never have been at peace. In addition, it is likely that Kreon would not have allowed her body to be buried either, resulting in her soul also being tormented. However, Antigone was much too stubborn to apologize to Kreon for her actions. She proudly accepted her fate and handled her death very bravely. She did not allow Kreon to have the satisfaction of her being buried alive in a cave, and wanted to have a

    Read More

  • Antigone God's Laws

    734 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout history, humans have been faced with the dilemma of maintaining loyalties to religion, while still obeying the laws of government. This moral dilemma has been displayed by the many playwrights of ancient greece. In the play ‘Antigone’, Sophocles develops the moral imperative of absolute obedience to the gods over any laws of the state. Sophocles uses Antigone’s rise and fall,Creon’s tragic attributes, as well as the messages implemented by the chorus to convey that one should remain loyal to the gods above all else.

    Read More

  • Religion vs. State in “Antigone"

    829 Words  | 2 Pages

    The play “Antigone” is a tragedy by Sophocles. One main theme of the play is Religion vs. the state. This theme is seen throughout the play. Antigone is the supporter of religion and following the laws of the gods and the king of Thebes, Creon, is the state. In the play Creon has made it against the law to bury Antigone’s brother, something that goes against the laws of the gods, this is the cause of most conflict in the story. This struggle helps to develop the tragic form by giving the reader parts of the form through different characters.

    Read More

  • Gods Law And God's Law, Antigone And Creon

    1366 Words  | 3 Pages

    Creon as king believes in the laws of man. To him laws are passed to punish, to teach and to keep people in line. He believes that the laws of man have more power than the laws of the gods. In Antigone’s view the laws of the gods supersede any human law, “Nor could I think that a decree of yours-- / A man—could override the laws of Heaven/ Unwritten and unchanging” (lines 453-55). To her following the will of the gods is more important than the judgment of Creon, though she knows disobeying him will cost her life. To Antigone the laws of the gods never change and thus hold more power than the laws of man which are fickle. The laws of the gods regulating the life of man “are eternal; no man saw their birth” (line 457). She fears “the gods’ tribunal” (458) more than disobeying Creon, even though she knows that defying Creon will result in her death. Antigone also felt that by obeying the laws of the gods she was honouring her

    Read More

  • Comparing Positive and Natural Law

    1441 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Do what you believe is right.” This is a phrase common to us all, brought to our attention by parents, reinforced by teachers, and preached by leaders. But how does one define what is right? Is it what we believe in our hearts, or is it what we know is acceptable? This is a predominant dilemma that can be traced throughout society, and is the main focal point of Sophocles’ play Antigone. Written in 441 B.C., Antigone is one of the earliest records of the conflict between Natural law and Positive law. Sophocles deftly exposes these two philosophical standpoints and their respective moral and political aspects by way of the two main characters, Antgone and Kreon. Antigone is a champion of Natural law, while Kreon practices the Positivist approach. Both characters deem their behavior superior towards the other, and both assume religious justification for their actions. Sophocles ultimately proves that with so much support for each philosophical standpoint, a solution to the dilemma is hardly in sight.

    Read More

More about Kreon Themes In Antigone

Open Document