Creon A Conflict Of Personal Character - 2413 Words

John Lennon said, â€Å"Part of me suspects that I’m a loser, and the other part of me thinks I’m God Almighty.† Hubris, or excessive pride, was one of the biggest themes in Ancient Greek culture. It has what killed heroes, and destroyed villains in mythology and even real life. In the play Antigone, written by Sophocles, I share the battle that Creon has regarding a conflict of personal character, which leads to the deaths of others caused by his tremendously large ego. Creon is a man of principles, who is devoted to the state as well as upholding the law in a dominant and control freak type of manner. Creon uses his first speech as a way to explain his ideas, expectations of the people, and his first law regarding the body of Polynices. Knowing the people of Thebes will disregard his word, he explains to the populace that, â€Å"Whoever places a friend above the good of his own country, he is nothing†(67). He brings up the threat of death due to the uncertainty of future rebellion and clearly states, â€Å"Our country is our safety†(68). This type of indoctrination starts from the head and trickles its way down to the people regardless of whether they want it or not. Bribery is another one of his major concerns. Knowing that corruption leads to dysfunction, rebellion, and torment, Creon poetically makes another law regarding, â€Å"Money! Nothing worse in our lives, so current, rampant, so corrupting†¦ No limit, you make them ad ept at every kind of outrage, every godless crime-money!...Show MoreRelatedBiography of Sophocles Essay1496 Words   |  6 Pagesnumerous, and two of his innovations were especially important. He increased the number of actors from two to three, thus lessening the influence of the chorus and making possible greater complication of the plot and the more effective portrayal of character by contrast and juxtaposition; and he changed the Aeschylean fashion of composing plays in groups of three, each of them part of a central myth or theme, and made each play an independent psychological and dramatic unity (Babette 2). In his lifetimeRead MoreEssay on Analyzing Antigone and Creon1313 Words   |  6 PagesAntigone, embellishes the opposing conflicts between Antigone who stands for the values of family, and Creon who stands for the values of state. Sophocles explores the depths of Antigone’s morality and the duty based on consequence throughout the play, as well as the practical consequences of Creon who is passionate and close-minded. Although Antigone’s moral decisions appear to be more logical and favorable than Creon’s, a personal argument would be that both characters’ decisions in society can beRead MoreEssay on Antigone1426 Words   |  6 Pagesthe perspectives of Ismene, Antigone, and Creon enables the audience to understand how Sophocles macroscopic analogy to humanitys prejudiced judgments as well (and ambiguity of justice) To begin with, an in depth analysis and understanding of Creons intents and actions must be established in order to evaluate the reactions of Antigone and Ismene. The central conflict of Antigone derives from Polyneices betrayal to the city of Thebes. As the ruler, Creon naturally feels compelled to exert hisRead MoreCreon from Antigone Essay612 Words   |  3 PagesCreon from Antigone A tragedy, as defined by Ms. Tozar, is â€Å"the story of a falling from a high place to a lower place by a character.† In other words, a tragedy is a story of an individual who starts in a high position and descends throughout the story to end in a position that is lower than original position. The individual who makes the descent is known as the tragic hero. The tragic hero, as defined by Ms. Tozar, is â€Å"the character who falls from grace as a result of fate and/or a weaknessRead MoreThe Production Of Antigone By Peta Tait Essay1708 Words   |  7 Pagesin multiple instances even though the production has an incorrect central conflict. Company B’s production is correct when Tait explains how it portrays why Creon did not bury Polyneices’ body and just left it out to the animals instead (71). The production is also correct when implying why Creon treats Antigone and Ismene badly as if they have the dignity of animals (73). By looking at Sophocles’ A ntigone, it portrays Creon of having the same understanding of Polyneices, Antigone, and Ismene tooRead MoreCompare and Contrast the Part That the City or State (Polis) Plays in Antigone and Oedipus the King.1539 Words   |  7 Pagesboth plays taking place in public in front of a chorus of Theban citizens. Personal conflict/crises take place in public, and when personal events take place off stage, they are relied to the chorus (and the audience) through messengers. The city also helps to move the plot of the plays along, as well providing dramatic tension. In addition the city helps to give us greater understanding of the characters of Oedipus and Creon, as the rulers of Thebes in Oedipus the King and Antigone respectively.Read MoreTheme Of Conflict In Antigone973 Words   |  4 PagesElizabeth Heeb Doctor Pratt Intellectual Heritage I (IH 851) 28 September 2017 Moral Conflict and Internal Change in Antigone Beliefs are not always based on facts that you would find in a textbook-they are something that one believes is true. When I first read Sophocles’ play Antigone, my initial impression of Creon was that his beliefs of the law and the state were rational because of his role as a ruler. But as the play progressed, I began to disagree with his behavior and his values becauseRead MoreAntigone Character Analysis916 Words   |  4 Pagesmy initial impression of Creon was that his beliefs of the law and the state were rational because of his role as a ruler. But as the play progressed, I began to disagree with his behavior and his values because he only focused on his own moral beliefs rather than considering the beliefs of other people, which could have resolved conflict. Throughout the play, the theme of authority of the state and religion is represented through the individual beliefs of Antigone and Creon. The author includes theRead MoreTragedy in The Merchant of Venice1472 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to dictionary.com, a tragedy is a form of art based on human suffering; furthermore, it is a dramatic composition, dealing with a serious or somber theme, typically that of a great person destined through a flaw of character or conflict with some overpowering force, as fate or society, to downfall or destruction. Tragedy elements are that in which a protagonist agonizes disconnection from society and also, he or she makes an error or shows awful decision making. There are typically deathsRead MoreThe Punishment For Overstepping Creon s Authority Essay1235 Words   |  5 PagesIn Sophocles’ â€Å"Antigone† there is a clear gender conflict that forms between the protagonist Antigone and the antagonist Creon. Antigone’s determination to give her brother a just burial inspired the people of Thebes, but enraged Creon. Although Antigone does not obsess over the gender struggle as much as Creon, there is no disputing that the gender roles of Ancient Greece fueled the central conflict of the drama. The clash between Antigone and Creon was symbolic towards the subjugation of women by