In Antigone, by Sophocles, Antigone must go against the laws of Creon. Creon is the King of Thebes because the future king was suppose to be Polyeices or Etocles, but they killed each other in war. She seeks justice for her brother Polyneices because he wasn’t buried properly like her other brother Etocles. There’s one obstacle in Antigone’s path, Creon’s law which is death to anyone who even touches Polyneice’s body. Although Creon and Antigone are adversaries, they share similarities and differences which led to there tragic ends. Antigone strongly believes that Polyneices should be buried with honors just like Etocles.
Antigone displays her loyalty towards her family and God by properly burying Polyneices. She states, “But I shall bury him; and if I must die, I say that my crime is holy: I shall lie down with him in death”(2.57-59). This shows that Antigone cares about her family by wanting to properly bury Polyneices, even at the cost of her own life. While Antigone argues with Ismene, she states this quotes which eventually motivates Ismene to lie and take an allegation she hasn’t done. When Antigone disputes with Creon, she tells him that the laws of God are far more superior than those of men. This demonstrates her loyalty by telling Creon this in his presence. Antigone knows that the laws of God should come before the laws of men and shall be forever operative.
Creon shows his loyalty towards his state by unwillingly taking full responsibility of the state. Creon tells his people the following: he has no use for people who put friendships before public welfare, nothing but contempt for a governor who is afraid, and never have dealings with the enemy. One can infer he has a strong sense of loyalty by being king. He seems to be more interested in public welfare than friendships. Creon argues with his son Haimon telling him, ” You’ll never marry her while she lives”(3.23). His statement followed by other cruel ones leads Haimon into madness resulting in his sons death. This consequently leads to Eurydice, his wife’s death.
Antigone is associated with prideful characteristics, which marked her fate. Antigone declares before Ismene, ” Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way”(2.36) Her statement reveals that she doesn’t fear Creon. This remark might have been made up while she was heating up; she tries to be cocky in order to boost her confidence. Throughout her heated conversation with Ismene, Antigone announces that she isn’t afraid of danger, even if it means death. This indicates that she doesn’t fear death, rather she welcomes it.Antigone wants to have honor with death because to her death without honor is meaningless.
Creon is also known for his pridefulness, which led to his downfall. When Choragos asks Creon if Haimon might react with bitterness he responds by saying, ” We shall soon see, and no need for diviners”(3.4). Although Haimon acted with little emothion, he later reacted with bitterness and killed himself. Haimon was not happy with the new, but Creon didn’t think Haimon would commit suicide. When Teiresias tells Creon that something bad shall happen soon, Creon takes it as a joke do to his pridefulness and stubbornness. Teiresias warned Creon that he shall pay corpse by corpse. This led to Haimons death and his wife Eurydice’s death. All of those tragic events could have been avoided if he wasn’t so prideful and stubborn.
Antigone decides to face Creon’s law head on by burying her brother Polyneices. Creon asks his servants to find out who did this, but he thinks that a man did this. Antigone argues with Creon about equal honors for the dead , but Creon believes Polyneices is a traitor. She is sentenced to death, but Haimon , Antigone’s future husband son of Creon, finds out about this and kills himself as he sees Antigone dead. Creon rushes to his home to find out that his wife ,Eurydice has also died. Creon is left alone due to his pride and stubbornness.
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