Creon And Antigone Character Analysis - 1538 Words

The characters Creon and Antigone, from Sophocles’ Antigone, act as cautionary figures for the audience as they warn against the intense belief in and dedication to a single perspective, as doing so leads to a certain lack of malleability that is detrimental to maintaining a fully functioning society. The onlookers of this play, the Athenian people, come to naturally notice the benefits of remaining within the middle ground between beliefs such as those that Creon and Antigone stood for. The unfortunate events that follow these characters actions accentuate the need for balance between the two components that influence societal laws; these elements become understood as the heavenly or divine laws of the gods, and the written or state laws†¦show more content†¦This new leader declares his belief that regardless of the motivation and logic behind a leaders decrees, regardless of its relation to tyranny, any form of objection is unacceptable. In the eyes of Creon a small act of defiance, unconcerned with the reason, is one step to close to total anarchy and destruction of the state. This dramatic emphasis on this ties directly to the decision that Creon makes later on when he ultimately chooses to make an example out of Antigone. Rather than putting Antigone to death in the way that a common criminal would be, Creon states, â€Å"I’ll take her off the beaten track, where no one’s around, and I’ll bury her alive underground, in a grave of stone,† (Sophocles 773-774). Creon finds himself willing to take direct action to bring justice to Antigone and plans to do so in a rather gruesome and memorable way. The authority of the state identifies with the authority of the patriarch. If one is upheld, then the other must be as well. Creon does not know any better than this and discredits all claims that might persuade him otherwise. Antigone portrays the same issue of unconditional support to a specific viewpoint; however, she lies on the side of the argument as Creon. Her dedication to the divine and moral laws that she naturally feels guided by completely take over all of her actions and thoughts throughout the play. In response to the law Creon has made, Antigone argues: I neverShow MoreRelatedCharacter Analysis of Antigone and Creon in William Shakespeare ´s Antigone1144 Words   |  5 PagesAntigone and Creon, the two displayed tragic figures of Antigone, both led themselves to their demise because of their love for themselves and the hate they both share for one another. Antigone’s proven love is of the afterlife while her hate is for her uncle and king, Creon. Creon may share the love of himself, however, it is not quite the same as Antigone’s love. Creon loves to rule the city of Thebes and hate’s Antigone, which is very odd for both characters because they are family. SophoclesRead MoreJustification of Creon in Antigone by Sophocles Essay994 Words   |  4 PagesJustification of Creon in Antigone by Sophocles Antigone is a tragic play written by Sophocles in about 441b.c. The play is a continuation of the curse put upon the household of Oedipus Rex. Sophocles actually wrote this play before he wrote Oedipus, but it follows Oedipus in chronological order. The story of Antigone begins after the departure of Oedipus, the king of Thebes, into self-exile. Oedipus’ two sons, Eteocles and Polyneices, were left to rule over Thebes. An argument over rightsRead MoreAntigone Character Analysis1422 Words   |  6 Pages Antigone, the final play in a series including Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, discusses the ideas of leadership, family, and choices. It features two central characters: Antigone, a girl who chooses to illegally bury her brother, and Creon, a king who decrees the burial of the brother to be illegal. 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There is also a significance of which character is inRead MoreBiography of Sophocles Essay1496 Words   |  6 Pagesthe more effective portrayal of character by contrast and juxtaposition; and he changed the Aeschylean fashion of composing plays in groups of three, each of them part of a central myth or theme, and made each play an independent psychological and dramatic unity (Babette 2). In his lifetime, Sophocles composed more than one hundred plays, of which seven complete tragedies and fragments of eighty or ninety others are preserved. Of the complete works available, Antigone, Oedipus Tryannus (Oedipus Rex)Read MoreThe Endings Of Sophocles Antigone919 Words   |  4 Pagesthe endings of Sophocles Antigone and Anne Carson s Antigonick convey contrasting ideas of the power of fate, and its role in tragedy. In Antigone, fate is described as an inevitable, insurmountable aspect of life that cannot be avoided. 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