Antigone And Creon example essay topic

Conflicts affect people in both positive and negative ways. Usually conflict results in changes in attitude, thought, and actions of a person. In the Greek tragedy Antigone, Sophocles portrays a struggle between a young woman, Antigone, and a wise king and her uncle, Creon, when Antigone buries her brother against Creon's proclamation, which eventually results in a line of deaths. The play investigates the adverse conflicts that occur when one person opposes to the law. Sophocles utilizes three general conflicts including the individual versus authority, youth versus age, and male versus female. The first conflict is between individual and authority.

The main dispute is between Antigone and her uncle Creon. This all starts with Antigone's brothers, one of whom attacks Thebes, while the other defends it. Both brothers die, but Creon chooses to honor the brother who defended the city, and leaves the other brother unburied. He does this because he is certain a person who attacks his city does not deserve burial. In Greek times if a person was unburied his / her soul wanders the earth without rest, because it can not cross the River Styx.

At the start of the play, Antigone has a conversation with her sister, Ismene, where she explains why Creon has made his edict. Antigone announces, "It is against you and me he has made this order". (line 26) In this statement, Antigone says he has done this to her, and she regards it as being personal. This is the first clue that Antigone and Creon have had complications with each other in the past. Antigone know Creon will enforce the penalty of stoning for anyone who buries Polynices. She feels she has an obligation to the dead, so she decides to honor him with a pious burial.

Antigone states, "He has no right to keep me from my own". (line 42) Though Antigone knows the punishment, she defies the king's authority, and gives her brother a holy funeral. She knows the punishment, but she respects a higher honor she knows she must pursue. Later Antigone adds, "There is no punishment can rob me of my honourable death". (line 85) This shows Antigone believes so stalwartly in her own ideals that she is willing to give her life to what she is ethical. It does not matter to Antigone that Creon will kill her and parade her motionless corpse for all to see. This is because she feels that the gods punish wrongdoers and it is wrong not to bury Polynices. Though Creon is very wise he does not always follow what he converses about.

Creon tells the chorus about how a king must rule and how he must take advice, or he will be damned. Then Creon says, "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". (lines 144-146) This is very exact when being a king, and is a very wise comment. Though Creon breaks this comment, because he does not take advice from younger people and women, because he feels he is always accurate. Later in the story, Creon discerns that Antigone is the wrongdoer. He wants her to admit that she knew his declaration, and disobeyed it openly.

Antigone's pride in what she has done makes her admit it pompously. She declares, "I did not think your edicts strong enough to overrule the unwritten unalterable laws". (line 380) This line exemplifies Antigone's willingness to seek her own path to what she deems right. It is immaterial to her that she is the only one to take action against him openly, because she knows she is doing the right thing. Antigone life has been filled with much pain with the humiliation of her parents being mother and son. This is apparent when she tells Creon, "Living in daily torment as I do, who would not be glad to die". (lines 389-340) Antigone has been a victim of the curse of the House of Labdacus, and it is obliterating her family. Antigone is a very ardent figure that opposes the law.

The prior catastrophes alter Antigone into a person who is a leader to many. In Creon's city the only one with any privileges is the king. After the sentry brings in Antigone, Creon declares, "But, as I live, she shall not flout my laws with impunity". (line 406) While he is in control, no one is going to treat Creon's laws with contempt, and go unpunished. He is very strict in his statutes, and is ready to take them into effect even if she is his niece. He thinks and announces that she is the only traitor in Thebes, and he does not wish it to spread. Creon states, "How if I tolerate a traitor at home shall I rule those abroad?" (line 557) Creon considers if he lets Antigone go people will think his punishments are not worth taking seriously.

Creon explains, "Therefore, I hold to the law, and will never betray it". (line 575) He will not change his assessment to castigate Antigone, because no one he meets will take him serious. Creon then has a conversation with his son, Haemon, in which Haemon explains that Creon's harsh disciplines is resulting in sympathy for Antigone with the people of Thebes. Yet, Creon is bent on him being exactly right that he thinks people would never have pity for a criminal. He continues on to articulate, "You are wrong. None of my subjects think as you do". (line 427) To make it appear that he is not murdering Antigone he imprisons her in a cave with food and water, and the gods will decide is she lives or dies. Creon tells the Chorus, "Though on earth her life is ended from this day, her blood will not be on our hands". (line 750) He is convinced this will prove to the people that the gods do not support her doings.

While in her rock prison, Antigone explains she is not troubled at Creon, but if she results in being correct she wishes, he too suffers her fate. Before Antigone's death she says, "Go I, his prisoner, because I honoured those things to which honour truly belongs". (line 789) Antigone departs her world holding unyielding in her principles and never once withdraws from them. Individual versus authority shows the determination of a youthful woman to oppose a king to do what is morally right. Youth versus age is a major conflict that continues through this story. In the beginning, the Chorus holds a conversation with Creon about Polynices's body that is buried mysteriously. The Chorus states, "My lord, I fear-feared it from the first that this may prove to be an act of the gods". (lines 232-233) This delineates the Chorus's skepticism and wide view that gods are among the people of earth.

Creon is certain that the gods would do no such thing, so he tells the Chorus, "Enough of that! Or I shall lose my patience. Don't talk like an old fool, old though you be. Blasphemy, to say the gods could give a thought to carrion flesh!" (lines 234-237) Creon considers that since the Chorus is old they are crazy and delirious. He does not want to listen to cynicism; he just wants results.

Later on in the play, Haemon has a talk with Creon. Haemon attempts to be very respectful and courteous to his father by his flattery. Haemon tells Creon, "I am your son, sir; by your wise decisions my life is ruled, and them I shall always obey". (lines 537-538) Haemon tries to be polite and slip in little bits of criticism, without Creon noticing. Creon is delighted in his son's obedience and loyalty over his life. Creon declares, "To be the father of unprofitable sons is to be the father of sorrows, a laughingstock to all one's enemies". (lines 545-547) This bellies that Creon is very critical of his self-image, and that a son should always be obedient, loyal, faithful for him to be profitable. Haemon explains to Creon, "I neither am nor wish to be clever enough to prove you wrong, though all men might not think the same as you do". (lines 583-584) In this statement Haemon calms Creon with sycophancy, then he says what he truly believes.

Haemon then states", Let not your first thought be your only thought". (line 603) Haemon wishes that his father be a wise king and take advice from his advisors. As another critique Haemon says, "It is no weakness for the wisest man to learn when he is wrong, know when to yield". (line 608) Again, Haemon thinks Creon can not accept that he can occasionally be incorrect. Haemon wishes his father would ask for help when he is not certain what to do. This causes Creon to be infuriated with Haemon, and he expresses it by saying, "Indeed! Am I to take lessons at my time of life from a fellow of his age". (line 622) Creon thinks just because Haemon is young he has no idea what he is talking about.

Creon thinks he knows everything there is to know, and no one younger could possibly have something he does not know. Haemon then retorts, "It isn't a question of age, but of right and wrong". (line 625) Haemon knows that if Creon is to be a wise king he has to take advice. Haemon attempts to get Creon to over look the factor of age, but it does not result in a change. Creon regards himself as being able to do anything he desires, because he is king. He tells Haemon, "The people of Thebes! Since when do I take my orders from the people of Thebes". (line 630) Creon knows that the king is only responsible for one person, the king.

Haemon, though is very young knows that selfishness is a terrible thing. He proclaims, "Isn't that rather a childish thing to say?" (line 631) He believes that a king should be mature enough to listen to others, no matter what the age. He also is certain that a king should know what he is saying with no prejudices, such as age. Haemon's disobedience results in Creon calling him a villain. Creon thinks Haemon is doing this to enrage him, and it works. This shows that Creon takes disloyalty as a threat, and portrays his short temper.

At the end of the conversation, Haemon tells Creon what he really thinks, when he says, "Only because I know you are wrong, wrong". This bellies that Haemon can and willing to stand up for his ideals. The statement culminates the discussion. This states also explains how Haemon perceives Creon's ways. Near the end of the story, the blind prophet Teiresias visits Creon to tell him what he predicts for the future. In the beginning, Creon is respectful to the highly regarded prophet.

He treats Teiresias as a wise and learned man. As evident when Creon states, "There was never a time when I failed to heed, it father". (line 820) Teiresias explains that his devotion is the reason why Creon has live such a well-guided life. The blind prophet depicts his prophecy, and Creon goes into a fury. He is positive that Teiresias is in his presence for his own self-gain, and he is taunting Creon.

Creon complains, "You take me for your target reverend sir, like all the others". (line 860) He is sure that the only reason Teiresias is telling him this lie is for greed. However, the conflict of opinions Teiresias continues to enlighten Creon with his divination. This prophecy causes Creon to have a drastic change in his character. He realizes that to help save his son and his city he must release Antigone and bury Polynices. This demarcates the change of Creon from the beginning to the end of the story.

Finally, at the end Creon states, "I know not where I should turn, where to look for help?" (line 1123-1234) He is confused with the past events, and his entire family's death devastates him. He wishes for his death, but he knows this is not an option. Youth versus age results in changes of character with Creon by making him a wiser king. The conflict of male versus female is evident in this story, and vividly exposes the power structure at that time. In the introductory conversation between Antigone and her sister, Ismene the battle between male and female is clear. It also bellies the character traits of each woman.

Antigone is strong, passionate, and fiery, while Ismene is weak, scared, fragile, and obedient. Ismene follows what men declare for the fear of the consequences. She describes to Antigone her beliefs by saying, "How could you dare, when Creon has expressly forbidden it?" (line 41) She does not feel it is possible for women to stray from man's wishes. Unlike Antigone, who follows what she perceives has right no matter if a man forbids it. Ismene then states, "O think, Antigone; we are women; it is not for us to fight against men; our rulers are stronger than we". (lines 53-54) This exemplifies females' domination by men, and it being a routine everyday thing. Just because men are stronger, women feel they cannot stand up to them.

Later on when Creon decides to kill Antigone he proclaims, "Oh, there are other fields to plough". (line 486) This sexist remark by Creon shows that to Creon women are objects for enjoyment, and they have not other important contribution to society. It also shows that all women are the same and not one of them is dissimilar. Creon then goes on to how he believes that women are despicable things who wreck lives, because he has had bad experiences in the past. He says, "Do not be fooled, my son, by lust and wiles of a woman. You " ll have bought cold comfort if your wife is a worthless one". (lines 547-549) This quote by Creon explains that women are problematic and conniving. Creon fells that women are worthless if they cannot work, so why have them around.

Again later Creon exemplifies his dislike for women when he states, "Better be beaten, if need be, by a man, than let a women get the better of us". (lines 577-578) This declaration clarifies he would rather let a man beat him, because they are equals. Than let an inferior woman who has no brains deceive you him. Creon has a prejudice against women and is the main example of the conflict of male versus female in this story. In Antigone, Sophocles applies three conflicts he develops to make the plot more tantalizing: individual versus authority, youth versus age, and male versus female. Individual versus authority is manipulated to show the difference between Antigone and Creon, and eventually her disobedience causes her death.

Youth versus age depicts the age differences and their unique mindsets, which helps Creon to become a wiser ruler. Male versus female helps clear Creon of his prejudices, because he know knows how much women actually meant to him after his wife's death. All three of the conflicts affected Creon in some way or another and changes Creon's and others' way of thinking towards life forever.