Creon and Antigone Being Stubborn In Antigone - Essay Example

     Creon and Antigone Being Stubborn In “Antigone” In “Antigone”, both Creon and Antigone are stubborn, and this can be seen as what contributes to their failure or downfall. The play is a tragedy. This is because both Creon and Antigone face misfortunes. Nonetheless, both of them are filled with pride, both of them are noble at birth, and both of them experience an immense failure. Creon becomes aware of his stupidity when it is already too late, and Antigone is aware of her fate from the start of the play. It is worth mentioning that fate plays a large part in the play. The play also shows how the gods mediate. Creon is punished for passing unreasonable rules. Key conflicts are also illustrated in the play. There is a conflict between the society and individuals. Antigone struggles against the authorities so as to reveal an unjust rule. This exposes a conflict between Antigone, Creon, and the communal customs that perceived that women are weaker than men and cannot participate in political decision-making. There is a conflict between two persons. There is a battle between Antigone and Creon, a representative of the state. Antigone also battles Ismene, who tries to convince her not to perform a burial ceremony for her brother. In addition, Creon quarrels with his son. Moreover, there is a conflict between the supernatural and the person, as Antigone’s household is cursed by the gods. The Antigone’s household fate causes their destruction. Finally, there is a conflict inside a person. For instance, in scene five Creon must relent even if he does not want. Both Creon and Antigone are tremendously stubborn. Their stubbornness causes their demise. Both of them are extremely independent individuals. Creon declines to accept anyone’s views except his own. When Haimon, his son, comes to converse with him, he declines to pay attention. He claims that his son is corrupted. In addition, Creon does not pay attention to Teirsesais’ morbid prophecy. Creon asserts that Teirsesais has been corrupted by money, like other prophets at the time. Later on, Creon listens to the Charagous as he was reminded that Teirsesais has always been right. As regards Antigone, she is largely independent. She does every activity by herself. For instance, when Antigone is conversing with Ismene, at the start of the play, she asks for Ismene’s assistance. When she declines, she is infuriated and decides to work on her own. This is evident when she sneaks past the guards who are guarding the Polyneices’ dead body. In addition, both Creon and Antigone are loyal. These two individuals are loyal to their ideas and views. Antigone is loyal to her way of life and Creon is loyal to his rules. Creon refuses to alter his rules, for instance, when he argues with Antigone. Creon refers to Antigone as a traitor because she prepares a burial ceremony for Polyneices. Creon is so extremely loyal to his rules that he does not view his actions as disobedient to the gods’ laws. In contrast, Antigone places the rules of the gods before the rules of the nation. She progresses with burial plans and buries her brother. This is forbidden by Creon. This indicates how short-sighted she is as she engages in activities she perceives to be godly instead of putting up with Creon’s laws. Creon does not accept other laws or opinions other than his own. The loyalty of these two individuals makes their relationships seriously extreme. First, Creon is an extremist as far as his motives are concerned. He perceives his law to be the most essential. Moreover, he is not willing to place his law under the law of the gods. He is also not willing to pay attention to the passionate pleas of his child to spare Antigone’s life. Instead, he puts his laws first before life. Later, his extreme determination causes his son’s death because he believes Antigone has corrupted his son. On the other hand, Antigone is a passion extremist. Antigone is not willing to listen to her sister’s reasoning. She does not listen to Ismene when she informs her of the dangers and problems involved when burying Polyneices, and this leads to her death. The extremist views of both Creon and Antigone make them foolish and cruel individuals. Creon is extremely cruel to people who surround him. Creon never listens to any person; instead, he acts in a foolish way and harms everybody around him. This is highlighted when he claims his son is a fool and is controlled by a female. Creon’s attitude and words hurt Haimon and fills him with anger towards his father. Also, Antigone is foolish and cruel in relationship with her sister, Ismene. Antigone is rude to her sister when she advices her not to risk everything for the gods. In another instance, Antigone deserts her sister because she refuses to assist in burying their brother. Additionally, Creon is cruel to Teirsesias, a prophet and an old friend. Creon does not believe Teirsesias when he informs him of the punishment that will follow if he does not free Antigone. Creon wants to abide by the laws he has created. Antigone is eager to risk everything, to do what is right and to abide by the law of the gods. Both Creon and Antigone share similar characteristics. Caustically, both of them are too similar in that they are blinded. The defects they share make none of them willing to tolerate each other’s views. A number of their characteristics are similar, but their views are so dissimilar that they cannot withstand one another. In my view, the results would be more pleasing or happier if either Creon or Antigone backed down. This is because their contrasting views bring a lot of conflicts between and within their lives and result in harm to many people. Creon’s laws are depicted as the right actions when it is through performing injustice that his desires are achieved. Creon is aware of the difference between unethical and ethical and chooses injustice. Antigone is also aware of the difference but chooses the right thing. If they come to a consensus, there will be harmony and happiness. Work Cited Fagles, R. The Three Theban Plays. New York: Penguin, 1986. Print. Read More