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Alejandra Rodriguez

Mrs. Morris

AP Lit & Comp

September 11 2016

A Cautionary Tale: Family Comes First

Antigone by Sophocles is a play that tells the cautionary tale of the consequences that

come with being power hungry and obstinate. It serves as a warning that familial relations should

come before political relations. Creon is Thebes ruler while Antigone is soon to be princess and

Creons soon to be daughter-in-law. However after Polynices and Eteocles, Antigones brothers

die while fighting each other, Creon forbids giving Polynices a proper burial. Antigone opposes

this decree. This is where the issues begin to unfold. Creon and Antigones first misstep in their

relationship begins with difference of opinion, followed by a wave of stubbornness and pride,

and finally it ends with complete and utter chaos; however, these clashes add to the meaning of

the work: family is more important than power.

Antigones main conflict with Creon begins with the death of her two brothers,

specifically Polynices. It soon becomes a struggle of law vs morality and deciding whether the

city or family comes first. Antigone is set on giving her brother a proper burial, however Creon

has made a law forbidding this, punishable by death. ANTIGONE: Go thine own way; myself

will bury him. How sweet to die in such employ, to rest,--Sister and brother linked in love's

embrace A sinless sinner, banned awhile on earth, But by the dead commended; and with them

I shall abide for ever. As for thee,Scorn, if thou wilt, the eternal laws of Heaven.
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ISMENE:I scorn them not, but to defy the State Or break her ordinance I have no skill.

(Sophocles 69-79) As illustrated in this quote, Antigone is adamant on doing what she believes

is right while Creon stays fixated on the law. Neither of them consider each others views or

come up with a compromise. This first conflict of opposing views forms a war torn mood and is

a set up for the many events to come. It creates tension between Creon and Antigone since

theyre both on the opposite side of a battle. Eventually the situation even makes the other

characters begin choose sides.

The hard-headedness and unmoving pride Antigone and Creon present, furthers the

hostility. Creon is continuously advised to look at both outlooks and be fair when it comes to

punishment. However, instead of taking this into account he becomes infuriated and makes the

punishment for Antigone worse: a living death. Creon's actions are brought on by a feeling of

losing power. CREON: Not even death can make a foe a friend. ANTIGONE: My nature is for

mutual love, not hate. CREON: Die then, and love the dead if thou must; No woman shall be the

master while I live. (Sophocles 522-524) As can be seen in this quote, he doesn't like being

questioned by his people or family. To feel like a man and fuel the ego, he has to do something

that makes him feel in control. Thus, despite several attempts to convince him other wise he tries

to kill Antigone in from of his own son, Haemon. While Creon faces a small masculine crisis,

Antigone is feeling very self righteous and is almost boasting about the fact she stood up for

something she believes the gods would want. This becomes an issue because Antigone seems to

only be doing this for the glory. Her actions of giving her brother a proper burial are justifiable

but her intentions may not be. Through her pride you can see self-adulation and a bit of

arrogance in her. As can be illustrated in this quote, she feels as her death is honorable due to
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her actions. Say I am mad and give my madness rein To wreck itself; the worst that can befall Is

but to die an honorable death. (Sophocles 92-96) This second set of issues highlights the flaws

of not only Creon and Antigone, but also of human nature. It foreshadows the tragic events to

come.

Chain reactions can be caused by the smallest of things, such as a domino. In this

particular case, the chain of events to come are due to a combination of differences and

unchanging ways. Creons actions cause a rippling effect in his family. After Antigone kills

herself, Haemon and his broken heart follow. Eurydice continues this death flow by killing

herself due to a mothers tortured soul. Antigones and Creons relationship ends tragically with

her death. Although there are no clear resolutions to their relationship, the conclusion allows for

Creon to see what he has done. He unfortunately has to live the rest of his life knowing he

essentially killed his family.

Antigones conflicts are set up in a way that one event leads to another and another. A

pure chain reaction. The struggle between law and morality sets the main characters up in a tense

environment that leads to a battle of whos the leader and ends with tragedy. As the voice of

reason in this play states: If he honors the laws of the land, and reveres the Gods of the State

Proudly his city shall stand; but a cityless outcast I rate Whoso bold in his pride from the path of

right doth depart;Ne'er may I sit by his side, or share the thoughts of his heart. (Sophocles

368-375) Neither of them ever saw coming to an understanding and using both law and morality

as an option. The use of Antigones and Creons familys death along with the two prominent

conflicts give way for a big lesson: Family is everything.

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Works Cited

Sophocles, and J. E. Thomas. Antigone. Clayton, DE: Prestwick House, 2005. Print.