Creon's Involvement In Antigone

For entertainment in early times of civilization, people wrote plays. This was because there was not any advanced technology, and there was not a lot to do so the people needed a distraction. For example, a playwright named Sophocles wrote a well know tragic play called, Antigone. The entire work is about the king, Creon, who decides to not bury a traitor named Polyneices, whom has a sister named Antigone. Later in the play, Antigone goes against Creon’s rule, and buries her brother. Creon becomes so enraged he decides to kill Antigone, but his son Haimon is supposed to marry her. Instead of killing her, Creon decides to lock Antigone away. However Antigone commits suicide, and upon finding out, Haimon tries to impale Creon but falls on the

sword killing himself. Throughout the play Creon exhibits tragic hero characteristics such as Hamartia and Anagnorisis. Hamartia is when the character has the flaw or error in judgement because of the character's emotions such as jealousy or vengeance. Anagnorisis is when the character realizes or recognizes that the reversal was brought about by the hero’s own actions. Creon may seem like the villain but in reality is a tragic hero because he is trying to do what is right for his people, while Antigone is the stubborn antagonist. Creon is a better tragic hero than Antigone because he expresses Hamartia, and Anagnorisis in the playwright, Antigone.

As a matter of fact, Creon’s emotional involvement in his rule has caused him to make biased judgements that lead him to being a tragic hero.

For example in his decree, he states, “His brother Polyneices who broke his exile to come back with fire and sword against his native city... whose one idea was to spill the blood of his blood and sell his own people into slavery- Polyneices I say is to have no burial,” (1.1.165-166, 168-170). Creon declares that Polyneices shall not be buried because of his actions against the city. His brother, Eteocles, however was able to get buried because he fought for the city and not against it. If Polyneices had fought with the city he would have the same fate, but in turn Creon wanted revenge, so he would not allow the traitor an honorable burial. Creon had wanted revenge because of Polyneices’ action against the city. In the play he tells Haimon,“I will carry her far away/ Out there in the wilderness, and lock her/ Living in a fault of stone. She shall have food,/ As the custom is, to absolve the state of her death/ And there let her pray to the gods of hell,” (1.3.632-636). After arguing with Haimon about Antigone’s execution, he decides to lock her away. Antigone went against Creon’s decree so he felt very disrespected and wanted to make an example out of her. Other people living in the city would realize that they can defy him as well, which is why Creon has to lock Antigone away. Based on the evidence, it clearly represents Creon’s bias

on Antigone’s punishment which shows his error in judgement.
In addition, at the end of the play, Creon finally has an epiphany that his family is dead because of his previous actions. After Creon finds out Antigone is dead along with his son he pleads, “Nothing you say can touch me any more/ My own blind heart has brought me/ From darkness to final darkness,” (1.5. 986-988). Creon has finally realized his rule has lead to his unhappiness. When he says his blind heart brought him from darkness to total darkness this means that based on his emotional judgements, he is the one who is at fault for his actions. As a result Creon, has finally realized, “I have been rash and foolish./ I have killed my own son and my wife/… Fate has brought all of my pride to a thought of dust,” (1.5. 1034-1036, 1037). He is showing his regret for his decisions. Essentially his actions killed the only people he loved which was his wife, and son. When he put Antigone away, he upset his fate, he was too proud to let go of her crime. Instead of giving her a pass, he pushed for her execution causing his family to die. Creon finally recognizes his family is dead because he could not let go of a small offense that had huge consequences.