Creon's Pride example essay topic

In the play Antigone, one of the protagonists, Creon, is presented with three interlocking themes. By facing these conflicts, Creon reveals his weaknesses and helps character growth. Through the development of these dramatic themes the play reaches its climax and its resolution and the audience is able to understand the personalities of each character. The themes I chose that demonstrated these characteristics are the fallowing: individual vs. society, youth vs. age and men vs. gods. When Creon's character is first introduced he is giving his first announcement as king to the public.

After his announcement you get the impression that he is a powerful and intelligent man that will rule his country well. When Creon presents his first law, he manages to create a conflict; man vs. society because the law states that Ploynesis is not to have a proper soldier's burial. Creon passes this law because he wants people to recognize that he is a powerful man who has no tolerance for traitors. Unfortunately, he is blinded from what the public actually wants him to do and what they think is right.

The public really wants to give Polynesis a proper burial and want Creon to listen to what Antigone is trying to say. Although Creon has the right intentions, his pride prevents him from being the king he wants to be. Creon is even told by his own son, Haimon, that he should not punish Antigone for her actions. Once again his pride comes in between his judgement of right and wrong. "Think: all men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, And repairs the evil. The only crime is pride".

Haimon tells Creon he will always obey his father, as a son should, but disagrees with how he is dealing with Antigones situation. He, along with the rest of the public feels that there are better ways to handle the situation. He tells Creon exactly what he needs to hear, which is that the public agree with Antigones actions and that Creon's pride is holding him back from doing so. This argument presents the conflict of youth vs. age. Not only does Creon's pride prevents him from listening to what Haimon is saying it is also that Haimon is much younger then him. Creon is offended by the fact that someone younger then he is questioning a man of his years and experience.

"You consider it right for a man of my age and experience To go to a school boy?" Age is also a factor that prevents him from listening to Antigone. To Creon, Antigone is just an inexperienced youth that is trying to undermine and take over his thrown. He never once thinks that there are plausible and logical reasons for her actions. "I'll have no dealings with law breakers, critics of the government: Who ever is chosen to govern should be obeyed-Must be obeyed, in all things, great and small, Just and in just!" The third conflict that Creon is presented with is men vs. gods. He corners himself between the state laws and the laws and beliefs of the gods. Creon disobeys the laws of the gods when he creates the law against Polynesis's burial.

Antigone on the other hand agrees with the laws of the gods and gives her brother a proper burial in spite of Creon's law. "I say this crime is holy: I shall lie down with him in death, and I shall be as dear to him as he to me". The contrast of both these beliefs and opinions of what is right and wrong is what puts Creon in this state of controversy and brings Antigone to death. We can see how strongly Antigone believes in the laws of the gods when she tries to persuade her sister, Ismene, to join her. Like Creon, Ismene believes that the laws of the public come first. "You may do as you like, since apparently the laws of god mean nothing to you".

As one can see, throughout the play Creon is faced with conflict after conflict. With each conflict he is confronted with, he digs himself into a deeper hole to the point of no return. When coming to the realisation of his condition it was too late, he had already hurt the people he loved and ignored the view and opinions of the public. His pride blinded him from being the king he wanted to be..