Sophomore Literature

Instructor: Ms. Pugatch

Antigone vs. Creon
By Rani Singh
Sophocles play Antigone dramatizes the conflict between the power of the state and duty felt towards
ones family by pitting the plays central characters (Antigone and Creon) against one another with
tragic consequences. Through these opposing characters, he explores the depths of morality and duty
based on consequence, as well as the pragmatism of the ego and the passions of the subconscious.
Though I will argue that both Antigone and Creons decisions can be justified, Sophocles positions
Antigone as the protagonist of the story, and thus encourages the audience to view her moral
justifications as being nobler than Creons.
The story of Antigone examines the nature of humanity by pitting two characters, each with a different
set of loyalties and values, against one another in the public sphere. Antigone is positioned as the
heroine of the play and represents the family sphere. Richard Braun notes that Antigones public
heroism is domestically motivated: Never does she give a political explanation of her deed; on the
contrary, from the start she assumes it is her hereditary duty to bury Polyneices, and it is from inherited
courage that she expects to gain the strength required for the task (Braun, 1973). It is her strong sense
of duty to family that drives her to willingly disobey orders laid down by Creon and challenges his
authority to dictate her role in society. She also believes her ultimate fate is determined solely by the
gods, and that final judgment will take place in the afterlife, not on earth. I will bury him myself. And
even if I die in the act, that death will be a gloryI have longer to please the dead than please the living
here (Sophocles, 1984, p.63) she tells her sister before she sets off to bury Polyneices. It is this
adamant belief that propels Antigone to be true to her values and to serve her brother by performing the
burial rights Creon has denied him. She is certain that she will be rewarded in the afterlife for her sound
judgment and loyalty.
Creon is equally as determined to stick to his convictions, but unlike Antigone, he believes mortals have
power to dictate societal codes of ethics, and that moral dilemmas and matters of the state should be
handled by the state. He aims to uphold the laws of men rather than fear divine intervention from the
gods. By punishing Antigone, he exhibits a disconnection with kin, and it is suggested that he is out of
touch with the fundamental aspects of humanity and community. H.D.F Kitto acknowledges Creons
lack of comprehension as shocking, stating, [Antigones] appeal is to what we should call the
overriding demand of natural love and common humanity; to him, this is nothing but disobedience,
lawlessness, and folly (Kitto, 1964, p.158). This determination to establish binding laws is evident in
Antigone when Creon declares, You cannot know a man completely, his character, his principles,
sense of judgment, not till hes shown his colours, ruling people, making laws. Experience, theres the
test (Sophocles, 1984, p.67). Indeed, it is Creons laws that demonstrate his flaws and cold disposition
against family relations. He also acts out of his own self-interest, which is not considered to be noble or
wise for a king. When Creons son Haemon challenges him, suggesting that by serving himself and
instituting a totalitarian rule of state he is neglecting to positively serve the people of Thebes, Creon
displays his egocentrism by responding, The city is the kings thats the law! (Sophocles, 1984, p.97)
This arrogant statement and blatant disregard for equality predetermines the conflict that is destined to
befall Creon when he collides with the equally righteous Antigone.
There is somewhat of a paradox between Antigone and Creons respective loyalties to family and state,
in that while they oppose one another, they occupy both of these social spheres. Antigone may fight to
preserve family values by breaking state laws, but she remains an active member of the society, and
similarly, Creon remains a husband and father despite his willingness to uphold state laws at the cost of

family bonds. This duality between them can be taken as a sign that they are both justified in their
actions as they struggle to represent the social values imposed upon them. George Hegel suggests
that what Antigone and Creon display is a collision of opposites, both of which are equally just. They
are firm figures who simply are what they are, without any inner conflict, without any hesitating
recognition of someone elses pathos, and therefore lofty, absolutely determinate individuals, he says
(Hegel, 1975). This is evident in Antigone as Creon is driven by his responsibility to serve the state and
his own egocentrism, as is Antigone headstrong and unfaltering in her decision to uphold family rights.
It could be argued that neither one is evil or bad nor even wrong in their convictions. Remaining true
to their moral obligations, they are driven to make shocking decisions that ultimately lead to their mutual
destruction. It is this mutual destruction that Hegel believes demonstrates their equal standing and the
moral justifications of both.
Hegels theory that Antigone and Creon are products of opposing state values and both justified in their
actions is a problematic theory in that the end fate of these characters are distinctly different in their
portrayal. Antigones fate is to die by her own hand, on her own terms and to make a powerful political
statement in the process. By taking her own life rather than die slowly at the will of Creon, she claims
agency that women in her position ought not to have. She becomes a martyr, standing up for what she
believes in, that is, flexibility within state rule to allow for family values to be more highly regarded. In
contrast, Creon is left shattered and ironically without family, having lost command of events after being
so determined to remain in control. As Laszlo Versenyi points out, there may well be justifications for
the conduct of both Creon and Antigone, but Sophocles admiration for Antigones personal heroism is
highly evident within the play and cannot be converted into a simpleminded advocacy of her cause
(Versenyi, 1974). This would suggest that Sophocles intended Antigone to be taken not only as an
advocate of the domestic sphere, but also as a rich and complex character full of nobility and a strong
representative of powerful women. She does indeed possess many of the qualities of traditional Greek
heroes such as moral virtue, courage and determination.
The tragic chain of events that leave Creon devastated by the loss of his wife and son, and guilt ridden
by his decision to have Antigone executed, represent a problem with the strict societal values that
divide family and state. Richard Buxton claims, The dilemma experienced by Sophocles Antigone
shows in extreme form some of the conflicts generated in ordinary life by that other framework for social
life, the polis (Buxton, 1998). By pitting state and family against one another, Sophocles comments on
the segregation between men and women in society and the devastating lack of equality that threatens
harmony. Classically, women represent the family sphere, while men dominate state rule. What
Antigone implies is that this lack of balance between the two breeds resentment in the subordinate sect
and anticipates conflict. It is only when Antigones rights are violated by Creons decree that she is
provoked to rebel. In this way she becomes a figure of moral agency, standing up for the marginalized
and questioning the moral justification of Creons laws. Surely Creon believes women ought to be
passive and subservient to men, as he implies with his comment, We must defend the men who live by
law, never let women triumph over us. Better to fall from power, if fall we must, at the hands of a man
never be rated inferior to a woman (Sophocles, 1984, p.94). With this comment it would seem that
Sophocles is questioning the gender dynamics within society, and through his heroic portrayal of
Antigone parallelled against the ego driven Creon, he encourages the audience to consider the
devastating effect of an unbalanced society.
Creon and Antigone not only highlight the problems with society; they reveal truths about human
nature. Sophocles appeals to the basic human emotions of his audience regularly throughout the play,
as many Greek tragedies do in order to shed light on aspects of human nature. Kitto notes, Sophocles
relies on and presents again and again the sheer physical horror, the sense of indecent outrage, that
we all feel, modern English as well as ancient Greek, at the idea that a human body, the body of
someone we have known and maybe loved, should be treated like this (Kitto, 1964, p.149). Creons
flaws reflect the flaws of society. Antigone herself is not without flaw. Like Creon, she demonstrates an

extremist nature and acts rashly in taking her own life. Though she knows it will distress her sister to
admit her disobedience and face death, she remains staunch in her convictions. This passionate
defiance of state dominance over domestic values leads Antigone down the path of glorified
destruction. She is proud, as is Creon, though as I have previously discussed, her reasons are
portrayed as being more noble than Creons because of his obvious self-interest and willingness to
carry out his brutal deed. Her fate can be seen as a tragic mistake made in the name of upholding
family values, where as Creon is given every opportunity to avoid his fate. Haemon, Tiresias and the
chorus all warn him to be more flexible and consider the impact of what he is doing, indicating that his
convictions may not be as just as he believes them to be. Therefore, the audience is encouraged to feel
less sympathetic with Creon than they are with Antigone, who displays the basic human instinct to
protect ones kin.
The dramatic events of Antigone that are played out by Antigone and Creon, demonstrate the tragic
collision of family and state in a society that determines hierarchies between the two and marginalizes
the domestic sphere. Questions of morality and duty are challenged by examining the fates of each
character and indicate that Sophocles was more inclined to admire Antigone and her cause over the
cold dictatorship of Creon. Perhaps the tragedy that befalls them indicates that a harmony between
state and family is the ideal solution, rather than a breakdown of both and a bloody schism within
society.

Questions
In your academic notebook, write at least four thoughtful sentences in response to each question in
order to receive full credit.
1. The author suggests that Creon is disconnected and out of touch with the fundamental
aspects of humanity and community. What is her reasoning for this claim? Do you
agree/disagree?
2.

What is scholar George Hegels stance on Antigones and Creons moral standing?
According to Hegel, how do we know that these two characters actions are equally
justifiable? Explain why the author of this article disagrees with this perspective.

3. How could the play be considered a commentary on the segregated roles of men and
women in Greek society?
4. Which aspect of Antigones personality could be considered her hamartia?