Compare Two Characters From Book "Antigone Of Sophocles": Antigone vs Creon (Book Review Sample)

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Antigone vs Creon
Antigone and Creon are two characters that are parallel. There are sharp contrasts between the two and in almost all instances—they do not seem to be in harmony. Oedipus was Antigone’s father. He was the king of Thebes and fled after killing his father and marrying his mother Iocaste (Fitts and Fittgerald 2). There arises great tension after his departure on who would be the next king. Antigone’s brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, had agreed to share the leadership roles in the throne. They quarrel over filling the leadership vacuum because Eteocles wants to be the next king (Fitts and Fitzgerald 2). In the process, the two kill each other. Creon is Antigone’s father. The issues surrounding the death and burial of the two brothers bring contention between Antigone and Creon (Shmoop Editorial Team). The two are brought out as very different characters with conflicting ideologies on religious law and the law of men. They also differ in issues of family loyalty and citizenship.
Creon has risen as the new king of Thebes. He addresses the people and tells them that he had “succeeded to the full power of the throne” after Eteocles and Polyneices killed each other (Fitts and Fitzgerald 6). Being a strict king, he would not condone anyone who disobeys the laws of the land. To him that would mean an insult to the people of Thebes. He holds his ideologies so strongly that everyone has to abide by the laws. As a new king, he wants to show that he is capable as a king and most suited for the position. He wants to preserve the laws of Thebes and to achieve this; all the laws must be adhered to strictly. Creon believes that anyone who breaks the laws and dishonors Thebes must not go unpunished (Shmoop Editorial Team). This according to him would promote treason. He believes that if the people of Thebes feared him as their king that would give him more power. He wants to be a strong king and not a bad king and to him a strong king must show regard to the laws. He must also be firm and strong in his decisions and should not waver when matters of lawbreaking are brought to him (Schakel and Jack 49).
When Eteocles and Polyneices killed each other, Creon decided that Eteocles would be given a descent burial (Fitts and Fitzgerald 6). On the contrary, he says that Polyneices “is to have no burial” and should be left for the dogs (Fitts and Fitzgerald 6). No one is also allowed to touch his body. Anyone who does so is to be put to death. Creon believes that Polyneices had betrayed the Thebes and does not deserve a descent burial. Antigone does not support the idea of her brother not having a decent burial (Fitts and Fitzgerald 12). She believes that she must express her respect to him and to do that she must accord him a proper send-off. She believes strongly in the laws of God and believes that human laws cannot surpass God’s law (Fitts and Fitzgerald 12). The king had made his decision but Antigone must challenge this. Ismenes, Antigone’s sister, warns her against disregard to the king’s decree (Shmoop Editorial Team). Ismenes believes that going against the king’s decree would have dire consequences, which would certainly be dangerous. She warns her sister against burying her brother and asserts that they must obey the laws.
Antigone disobeys the king and goes ahead to bury Polyneices (Shmoop Editorial Team). She is bold in her decision and is ready to suffer the consequences associated with it. Nothing can stop her. Creon then accuses Antigone for treason because she had disobeyed the his order. Creon wins and he has Antigone buried alive in a tomb. He regrets his decision to have Antigone buried alive. Choragon tells the king to “free Antigone from her vault and build a tomb for the body of Polyneices” (Fitts and Fitzgerald 21). The king does not succeed in this step of reconciliation. When he goes to the tomb, he finds that she had hanged herself. A lot of drama follows. Creon’s son, Haemon, loved Antigone very much. Upon receiving information concerning her death, he kills himself. Creon’s wife also kills herself because of her son’s death (Shmoop Editorial Team). Everything that Creon did turns back to him and he regrets his decisions.
Creon is brought out as a character that values the laws of the people more than the laws of God (Shmoop Editorial Team). To him the laws of the people are the undergirding principles of his leadership. He has to ensure that they are obeyed strictly and that no man goes against them. Creon even swears by the name of God and he says, “I call God to witness that if I saw my country headed for ruin, I should not be afraid to speak out plainly; and I need hardly remind you that I would never have any dealings with an enemy of the people” (Fitts and Fitzgerald 6). This however does not make him value God. When faced with the challenge of Antigone that has a firm belief in God, he makes decisions that are against God. Creon believes that the laws of the land are much more important than the laws of God (Schakel and Jack 70). He would go against all odds to protect the laws of the land. Antigone pleads with the king to reverse his decree but the king does not listen. She tells the king that the judgment was strict and says that “it was not God’s proclamation” (Fitts and Fitzgerald 11). She also tells the king that she does not think that a man’s decision should “override the laws of Heaven Unwritten and unchanged" (Shmoop Editorial Team). She believes that God is supreme and that his laws remain binding above all others. The king, however, does not have the same sentiments. Creon has made the decision and that is final. The challenge by Antigone leads to her eventual death (Schakel and Jack 38).
Antigone shows great regard and value to her family. She believes that no matter what position one occupy it should not be a chance to oppress the family. When her brothers die when f...