Antigone....

Describe Creon's character and the way he is portrayed in the story. What kind of leader does he sounds like at the onset of the play? What would you consider his flaws? How do you know these are his flaws?


Milena Noguera Csernick


Creon is Oedipus uncle, the former king of Thebes. After the death of Polyneices and Eteocles (the heirs to the throne) he became the new king of Thebes.
So far in this "tragedy", I can conclude that Creon is not a good king. He is self-centered, unfair, unwise, has no trace of humbleness and has a cold heart. In my opinion, the way that he speaks denotes that he thinks that everybody is beneath him, that everybody should be devoted to obey him and submit to his will, He ordered that nobody would mourn or buried Polyneices' body and he decreteed the punishment of death to anyone disobeying his order. He is unfair, He was accusing his niece Ismene along with Antigone of the deed against his decree without even knowing how everything happened, for all what the story showed to the point when he learned about the facts, Ismene was innocent but he went ahead and claimed that it was also her fault and sentenced both to  death,  even when the only one found at the scene was Antigone. He is an unwise leader, who uses his power in order to get his way and who threats the citizens under his government, that’s why Antigone tells him "No, these do, too, but keep their mouths shut for the fear of you". In a leadership fear is the worse feeling to inspire, because usually the feared person is also a hated person. His pride is extreme. When seeing the power and pride that Antigone expresses with her words, he feels threatened and frustrated is then when he says " Go then to the world below, yourself, if you must love. Love them. When I am alive no woman shall rule". He has a cooooollllddd heart. How can he do any harm to his own family?, first, by forbidding the proper and VERY IMPORTANT burial of his nephew's body and later on, by enforcing the law which will deprive young Antigone of her life. I say, what an animal.