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Antigone: Pride & Downfall
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Antigone: Pride & Downfall Essay
In the play “Antigone”, pride caused the downfall of both Creon and Antigone. Creon’s pride took the form of hubris; in Greek tragedies, hubris referred to arrogant pride. It often led a flawed character into conflict with the gods; the gods then seek retribution, which leads to the characters’ downfall. Antigone’s pride was expressed through her actions and in respecting her family and honoring the gods. Her pride did not place her into conflict with the gods, but it too led to her downfall. Although pride brings the downfall to both Creon and Antigone, it is Antigone who we truly respect.
Creon fitted perfectly with the concept of hubris, as his arrogant pride led to his downfall. As the king of Thebes, he believed that he should receive unquestioning respect and obedience, claiming “He whom the state appoints must be obeyed to the smallest matter, be it right or wrong.” His stubbornness was shown through his unwillingness to listen to advice, for ” No more; each word you say but stings me more” and when he questions, “Since when do I take my orders from the people of Thebes?” he was too proud of his status and would not admit that his actions and judgments were wrong, stating, “Wrong? To respect my own authority?” all of his personal qualities accounted for his decision to punish Antigone and leave Polynices unburied. This action angered the gods, and as a result, the gods punished him by sending his son and wife to death, leaving him behind with nothing.
The Essay on Play Antigone Creon Gods Shows
The play Antigone by Sophocles shows a conflict between the King Creon and Antigone. This conflict eventually leads to the destruction of the house of Creon. Upon closer analysis, it is obvious that Creon caused this to happen himself. There is an old saying that power corrupts and Creon has fallen victim to power. In the opening of the play, we learn that Creon has been proclaimed king. We expect ...
Antigone’s pride was not self-serving like Creon’s, but it still led to her downfall. She believed in the laws of the heavens and that “we have a duty to the dead.” With these beliefs, she chose to bury her brother, even though she knew perfectly well that she would be condemned to death, as a result of disobeying King Creon’s order. She believed that her actions were honorable and that there was no shame in burying her brother, even though he was a traitor and attacked the city of Thebes for “There is no shame in honoring my brother.” When Antigone was caught in the act of burying her brother, she was not frightened at all and she did not deny the deed claiming, “I do admit it, I do not deny it.” She believed that her actions were forthright and felt pride in doing so, for “I have given my brother burial, what more could I wish?” As a result of her pride, acting against Creon’s words, she was sentenced to death, her ultimate punishment.
Initially we can respect Creon, but we eventually lose respect for him. In the beginning, Creon was seen as a wise and trustworthy king, when he states that, “a king whose lips are sealed by fear, unwilling to seek advice, is damned. And no less damned is he who puts a friend above his country; I have no good word for him.” And “no man who is his country’s enemy shall I call himself my friend.” He was a committed king, as he placed the city of Thebes as his first priority, he claims that “our country is our life.” As time moved on, his arrogant pride led him to protect his power and status. He soon became a self-centered and selfish king, claiming “I am the king, and responsible only to myself.” His arrogant pride also led him to alienate everyone, even those who trusted him. He also became very suspicious, he even suspected the Chorus of plotting against him, when all the Chorus ever did was praise and flatter him. Due to his pride, people who respected him, lose respect.
The Essay on Antigone The Brutality Creon Gods Brother
The Brutality of Creon Vs. The Admirability of Antigone Many critics feel that in the play Antigone by Sophocles, there are two characters that can be considered the tragic hero. Antigone and Creon both display many characteristics that would label them the tragic hero. Creon s actions are against the will of the gods, and this is why he cannot be the tragic hero of Antigone. In his literary ...
We respect Antigone more just as the Gods and most of the people of Thebes support her. She earns respect as she can tell the difference between right and wrong, claiming “I know my duty, where my true duty lies” and also because when she has done something wrong, she does not deny it. Her loyalty towards her family and her courage also gains respect. The fact that she could bear death, but not bear leaving her brother unburied was honorable, she claims “this punishment will not be any pain. Only if I had let my mothers’ son lie there unburied, then I could have not borne it.” The gods support Antigone, as her actions against Creon’s law was considered honorable.
Creon stated that “proud thoughts do not sit well upon subordinates.” Antigone being inferior to Creon, did show pride but her pride did not cause harm to anyone but herself, therefore we truly respect her. If Creon had followed his own words and did not show arrogant pride, as he’s inferior to the Gods, he might have gained respect from the people of Thebes, and prevented his downfall.
