The Tragic Downfall Of Creon s Antigone - 1260 Words

Have you ever done something you knew was wrong, but wouldn’t admit your mistake to yourself or others for pride’s sake? In Sophocles’ Antigone, Creon’s own pride and stubbornness causes his tragic downfall that could’ve been stopped if he had made different choices along the way. His choice to remain adamant in his decree prohibiting Polynices from being properly buried largely affects the plot’s actions. Creon manages to extend and enlarge the disaster by sentencing Antigone to death, rejecting Haemon’s wisdom, berating Tiresias’ prophecy, and ignoring the Leader’s advice. The motive for Creon’s change attributes primarily to the expediency of the decision to free Antigone and have Polynices buried, which may have influenced Haemon’s†¦show more content†¦However, in choosing not to do anything to pacify his people, he only succeeded in enlarging the disaster. Haemon then went on to advise his fa ther to learn to yield to reason and recognize his mistakes as he states, â€Å"You’ve seen trees by a raging winter torrent, how many sway with the flood and salvage every twig, but not the stubborn – they’re ripped out, roots and all. Bend or break. The same when a man is sailing: haul your sheets too taut, never give an inch, you’ll capsize.† (1463) By making references to the trees and sails, Haemon tries to get Creon to realize that he must bend his own rule or else he will end up in ruins. With this knowledge, Creon could have chosen to realize the immorality of his own actions and change his mind about executing Antigone and refusing Polynices a proper burial. Instead, in his stubbornness and pride, he rejects Haemon’s wisdom, refuses to admit his flaws, and accuses Haemon of â€Å"fighting on her side, the woman’s side.†(1465) Creon’s refusal to release Antigone also enlarges the disaster because Haemon states â €Å"her death will kill another,† referring to Creon and tells his father, â€Å"you will never see me, never set eyes on my face again.† (1466) This shows that by persisting in his obstinacy, Creon only caused a rift between Haemon and himself and laid the foundation for his own son’s suicide. After Tiresias arrives toShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Antigone By Sophocles1074 Words   |  5 PagesSmith 1 Gabriel Smith Professor Christopher Foster English 1302 01 March 2016 Essay 2: Antigone A hero is a person who shows courage or noble qualities in the face of danger. There are many different types of heroes in literature and media such as superheroes saving the world, or an everyday fireman saving a kitten from a tree. 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In these stories the archetypes and hamartia of Antigone and Oedipus play a major role in the story. In â€Å"Antigone† the character Antigone displays numerous archetypesRead MoreThe Tragic Heroes Of Sophocles Oedipus The King And Antigone1275 Words   |  6 Pageshidden but controlling characteristics one may have. It carves the path for many plays and stories and is usually not recognized until a situation is too late to fix. This is represented in the two plays Oedipus the King and Antigone by Sophocles. Oedipus and Creon, the two the tragic heroes, have ignorance built up inside of them, though both are different. They then both then have realisation of their blindness by self-love, either by themselves or others. It is only two late when they see reality because