Differences Between Antigone And Creon

Has someone ever overpowered you? Did they make you feel like you were practically nothing? Many people feel as if they could help to make something better, but are oftentimes afraid to stand up for themselves; this is especially true with females. This is because they feel inferior to men, especially rulers. In Antigone by Sophocles, both sides of the conflict are morally equal. Antigone and Creon are positioned in a conflict that involves right versus right at times and wrong versus wrong at times, but either way, one side isn’t superior to another. Sophocles feels as if Creon is wrong and because of this, he writes in a biased tone throughout the entire drama, uses terminology to describe the positions of the characters in society, and

His words help one to understand what is happening throughout the story and why things play out the way they do. One can also infer what the character’s roles are in society. Sophocles makes the reader aware of the difference in the way people are treated depending on their role in society. For instance, Sophocles persuades one into believing Antigone was the favorable character because he describes Creon as being selfish, making one think Antigone is better. Creon thinks of himself as above all and the best, just because he’s the ruler of the empire. Creon speaks to his audience with sentences like, “Stop! / Must you doddering wrecks” ( 1. 1. 108-09). These comments from Creon let one understand the disrespect Creon shows to his members of the empire. Although Creon is rude and disrespectful, Sophocles doesn’t have the right to say that Antigone is in the right because she still went against Crean’s

The idea that men have more power than women is a common thought so it helps to reinforce Sophocles argument. He makes Creon seem even more evil than he is because of this idea that men are insulting women so greatly during the time period. He not only insults women, but thinks of them as weak and fearful. If one were to think about, if they lived during the time period and were male, they would feel the same way about women. For example, when Creon is trying to find out who buried Antigone’s brother, Polyneices, he automatically says “And the man who dared do this?” (1.1.78). Right away Creon goes on to assume that it was a man who went against his word. He thinks women are powerless and hesitant, so they wouldn't go against the ruler’s word when they know a punishment would be given. Again, Sophocles makes one feel sorrow for Antigone and hardship for Creon.

Creon tends to use his power to automatically place himself higher than everyone else, no matter who he’s talking to. In this example, Creon completely forgets that Teiresia is the one who gave him his power:

CREON. You forget yourself! You are speaking to your King.

TEIRESIAS. I know it. You are a king because of me.