Antigone, written by Sophocles in the 5th century BCE, is a tragic play that tells the story of a young woman named Antigone who defies the laws of her city, Thebes, and gives her brother a proper burial, despite the fact that he was declared a traitor by the city's ruler, Creon. In this play, Creon is the antagonist, or the character who is in conflict with the protagonist, Antigone.
Creon is a complex character who, at first glance, appears to be just and fair. He has taken over as the ruler of Thebes after the previous ruler, Oedipus, died, and he is determined to do what is best for the city. However, as the play progresses, it becomes clear that Creon is more concerned with maintaining his own power and authority than he is with doing what is right.
One of the main conflicts in the play is between Antigone and Creon over the burial of Antigone's brother, Polyneices. Polyneices was declared a traitor by Creon after he led an attack on Thebes, and as a result, Creon has forbidden anyone from burying him. Antigone, however, believes that it is her duty as a sister and as a member of her family to give Polyneices a proper burial, and she defies Creon's order and buries her brother.
Creon's response to this act of defiance is harsh and unforgiving. He has Antigone arrested and sentenced to death, declaring that she is a traitor and that she has shown no loyalty to the city of Thebes. Creon's actions demonstrate his willingness to do whatever it takes to maintain his own power, even if it means punishing someone who is simply trying to fulfill their duty as a family member.
As the play progresses, Creon becomes more and more entrenched in his own sense of righteousness, and he becomes increasingly stubborn and unwilling to listen to the counsel of others. He refuses to listen to his own son, Haemon, who tries to persuade him to be more merciful towards Antigone, and he also ignores the warnings of the prophet Tiresias, who tells him that his actions will lead to disaster.
In the end, Creon's stubbornness and lack of compassion lead to his downfall. Antigone's death, and the subsequent suicides of Haemon and Creon's wife, Eurydice, serve as a tragic reminder of the dangers of refusing to listen to others and of clinging too tightly to one's own sense of righteousness.
In conclusion, Creon is the antagonist in Antigone, as he is the character who is in conflict with the protagonist, Antigone. While he initially appears to be just and fair, his stubbornness and lack of compassion ultimately lead to his downfall. His actions serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of refusing to listen to others and of letting power and authority go to one's head.
.png/171px-Oedipe_et_Antigone%2C_Johann_Peter_Krafft_(1809).png)
