Creon believes that as king of Thebes, he has ultimate control and authority over the city and its people, and can pass any law or decree he wishes. He is ruling the city for himself selfishly, instead of the people, as his son Haemon accuses. Despite the claim that the city belongs to the people, Creon believes that “the city is the king’s”. His own claim to the ownership of the city justifies his acts of passing and enforcing unpopular decrees that are not of the interest of the people. Creon has his own personal dislike of Polynices, for betraying Thebes and attacking, and decides not to bury him. Therefore, the decree he passes is only made in self-interest. Creon thinks of Haemon as too young to understand such things, and is angered by Haemon’s comments, accusing his son of treachery. Creon is therefore portrayed as a character who is arrogant and quick tempered, as he has accused both his son and Tiresias of treachery against him. Instead of listening to others’ suggestions, Creon believes that everyone is trying to manipulate him. His protectiveness and arrogance with his power portrays a sense of paranoia and distrust with Creon, as well as his own egotism. Haemon accuses his father of selfishness, and Creon arrogantly argues that the city is his and he can do as he pleases. Haemon tells Creon that he would male “a splendid king…of a desert island – [him] and [him] alone”. Haemon’s thoughts portray that Creon is ruling for himself only, and is not making laws in the interests of the citizens of Thebes, despite him believing that what he is doing is right. His belief of righteousness adds to his own arrogance and ego. Unintentionally, his decree actually harms the people of Thebes, who are sympathetic to Antigone who tries to bury Polynices. Because of Creon’s crime against the natural law, a disease plagues Thebes.
When others, including the blind seer Tiresias, tell him that he is wrong and committing a heinous crime, he doesn’t listen to them. Tiresias claims that Creon’s own actions have brought the plague to Thebes, but he turns the blind seer away in anger, instead of considering the possibility. Creon shows more interest in saving himself from criticism because of his own ego, than in saving his people from a plague. Tiresias tells Creon that he is “the one who’s sick…sick to death”. The sicknesses that Creon is afflicted with are hubris, pride, arrogance, and egotism. His own arrogance and ego lead him to be prideful, and from that he refuses to believe that he may be wrong, which leads him to punish Antigone for defying him. When she defies him, he does not want to appear to lose to her, believing that he is “not the man, not now: she is the man if this victory goes to her and she goes free”. Adding insult to injury, it is a woman who defies him. Women are seen as lower citizens compared to men. So if he loses to her and appears wrong in the eyes of the citizens, it would be worse than if a man had proven him wrong. Creon does not want to appear as a weak ruler, as the Chorus is watching the exchange between him and Antigone. Therefore, he must have the victory over her. The decision to condemn her is made in the interest of protecting his own status and authority, as his own arrogance blinds him from his mistakes. His blindness is ironic, as the blind Tiresias is the one who can see the truth, while Creon can see, but is blind to the truth. Antigone is also locked in a tomb to die slowly, which is also ironic. Creon denies burial for a dead man, yet buries a living person. Ultimately, his own pride and hubris lead to the demise of his family. His wife, the queen, and Haemon both commit suicide, leaving Creon alone. Overcome by grief, he realizes that his own arrogance had led him astray, and that he has suffered for it. He accepts that he is “a rash, indiscriminate fool!”, and in the end he learns a powerful lesson from the consequences of his own egotism. His downfall portrays Creon as a tragic hero, as he is a character who meets his fate which has been caused by his own personal flaws.
In Antigone, Creon is characterized as a tragic hero and flawed character through his own sense of authority, paranoia, ego, and arrogance. Creon argues and condemns anyone who stands against him, even in their own good intent. His arrogance and feeling of self-importance lead him to make decisions that affront the gods, and are not in the interest of the people. He makes decrees on his own personal wishes, as he believes the city belongs to him. Creon believes that everyone around him is trying to undermine his power, causing him to be quickly angered at any criticism. In the end, these qualities lead to destruction of his whole family, creating a powerful impact on Creon. The downfall ultimately portrays him as a tragic hero, succumbing to the consequences of his own pride and hubris.
Bibliography
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Sophocles. The Three Theban plays. Translated by Robert Fagles. Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin Books, 1984.
Sophocles, The Three Theban Plays, Translated by Robert Fagles, (Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin Books, 1984), 318-320