Sophocles Antigone - Creons Mistakes :: Antigone essays

Creons Mistakes in Antigone            In the awe-inspiring play of Antigone, Sophocles introduces two remarkable characters, Antigone and Creon. A conflict between these two obstinate characters leads to fatal consequences for themselves and their kindred.  The firm stances of Creon and Antigone stem from two great imperatives his loyalty to the state and her dedication to her family, her religion but nigh of all her conscience. The identity of the tragic hero of this play is still heavily debated.  This tragedy could have been prevented if it had not been for Creons pitiful mistakes.         Creons character possesses an infinite number of glitches in his personality, but his excessive pride was the root of his problems.  His pride leads him to make accusations, before he considers the wise advice of others.  Creons pride also fills him not just as a king superior to the Gods, but also a man superior to women.  The issue of Antigone being condemned to die becomes more than just a person who disobeys Creon instead, the penalization is given even more eagerly, because it is a woman who disobeys a man. Creons intelligent son warns Creon the people of Thebes sympathize with Antigone, but Creon accuses Haemon of being a womans slave (line 756).  hitherto though he is suppose to be loyal to the state and her citizens, he defensively questions if the town is to tell him how he ought to rule?(Line 734)The Theban king is too rejoicing to obey even the wisest of prophets, blind Teresias, insisting that the whole crew of seers are money-mad (line 1055). Creon finally puts his pride aside and listens to the Chorus wise advice. It is laborious even then, and he obeys exclusively because he fears the punishment that he might receive. To yield for Creon is terrible (line 1095) meaning to swallow his pride and admit that he is wrong is a very difficult thing for him t o do. When Creon loses his wife and son, Creons pride disappears, and he admits that he made a terrible mistake by not listening to anyones advice.       Antigone, a resolute and undismayed female protagonist, pits her individual free will against the intractable forces of fate and against the irrational and unjust laws of tyrannical man like Creon.